I wanted to offer some brief thoughts about Don that typify his spirit. His mantra about living life to the fullest was definitely true. He was well-informed about any subject you wanted to speak about and was just fun to be around.

You would know that if you ever had dinner with Don. At EHX Spring in Orlando last year, we closed down a steak restaurant (literally, they had to kick us out about 1 am). Throughout the evening, he had the waiter on his toes because Don knew more about steak aging and cooking, potato preparation, and the origin and taste of wine than the restaurant staff. 

I also had the pleasure of hanging out with him at the Volutone golf tournament last September in L.A. We had a 15-minute breakfast before the round and the conversation rambled from our poor golf games to Texas A&M;football to politics to the state of the A/V cabling business in very short order.

Sadly, one portion of the conversation revolved around motorcycle riding. Don mentioned if he could find a way to carry a bag of golf clubs on a motorcycle, he’d do it.

We’ve all known great people throughout our lives and for me, one of them was Don.  Our friendship originated in business but it grew through mutual friends and the interests we shared in life.  I’ll always remember that each time I saw Don, whether it was a dinner, a glass of wine and a smoke or a conversation at an industry event, he was himself.  Full of life, full of passion for whatever we talked about and were doing and always encouraging others to explore their passions in life, not to miss the opportunity.  I regret that Don, myself and Bjorn Dybdahl were unable to make our schedules work one summer when we attempted a dive trip together.  That would surely have been a good time.  But right there you have the essence of Don, finding friends with a shared commmon interest.

Our last “business together” plan, hatched at the Volutone event (a seminal event) and carried on a bit in the fall, was to work to bring CEDIA and CEA closer together.  I’ll find a way to work on this for my friend.  He wanted us all to benefit from it.

Buzz Delano

Thank you to the two people who wrote the above stories about my father. However, I wanted to correct the information regarding his services. The one at Bryant’s Ice House is being held for his biker friends. The more formal event for his other friends, family, and colleagues at:

Sunday, March 2, 1pm-4pm
The Parador
2021 Binz
Houston, TX 77004
713-529-3035
http://www.paradorhouston.com

It is an open invitation, so we would love for anyone to attend that would like to.

Thank you,

Don Bouchard

Howdy Folks,

I met Don back in the mid ‘80s thru a coworker of mine at channel 39 in Houston, Bob Clark. I was the Director Of Engineering and Don and I had several most enjoyable discussions.

I last spoke to Don when we were planning a memorial tribute to Bob, who lost a hard fought battle to pancreatic cancer in April of 2006. He was most gracious on Bob’s passing and expressed his regrets that his schedule wouldn’t allow him to attend.

Don’s “Finite and Infinite” piece should be must reading for all. It eloquently sums up the vigor with which we should approach each and every day. Well phrased, positive, sobering and uplifting. It is, in two short paragraphs, who Don was.

Warmest regards,

John Schilberg