MAY 5, 1936, TO MAY 23, 2014
PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE DONALDSON FAMILY
Heartfelt Tribute: Weldon Donaldson
By Karyl Carmignani STAFF WRITER
I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. ~Maya Angelou
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un-loving. Enthusiastic. Unbelievably kind. Great sense of humor. Straightforward honesty and integrity. Lived life to the fullest. Great guy to be around. Loved his family and his city. Those are just a few of the descriptors those close to Weldon Donaldson shared at his memorial service. Longtime colleague Harry Melkerson counted Weldon as “mentor, best friend, and second older brother.” He was thoughtful, compassionate, funny, cherished his friends, and threw great beach parties. Those in Weldon’s sphere were susceptible to his affable joie de vivre. The much-loved philanthropist and retired television executive passed away last May, his wife of 57 years, Mary Barbara, and his son Glen by his side. Throughout his illustrious 29-year career in San Diego in the fast-paced media industry with KFMB-TV and KUSI-TV, and later executive director for the National City Mile of Cars, Weldon made it a point to contribute his time and talents to civic and sports organizations. His expertise in effective marketing was of great benefit to a broad range of organizations, including San Diego Zoo Global, where he served as a trustee from 2003 to 2012 (he became a trustee emeritus in 2012) and collaborated on the marketing and investment committees. He was instrumental in the launch of the San Diego Zoo Global brand. “Weldon was a tremendous asset to San Diego Zoo Global during his tenure,” said Doug Myers, our president and chief executive officer. “He brought his wealth of community relationships to bear on his work with our organization, broadening our reach to a worldwide level.” Weldon had a special affinity for the Safari Park and was particularly impressed with Lemur Walk and the beautiful designs for Tiger Trail. One highlight of his tenure with us was the trustee trip in 2007, where board members explored other zoos around the country.
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Weldon relished the social camaraderie and “seeing how other zoos operate helped to inform our decisions,” said Nan Katona, Weldon’s friend and fellow board member. Growing up in El Paso, Texas, Weldon was quite keen on football—he was a “red coat” volunteer for 30 years with the San Diego Bowl Game Association and served as president of the Holiday Bowl in 1998. A devoted golfer—he spent many afternoons on the green—Weldon chaired the Downtown YMCA and Crime Stoppers golf tournaments. In his spare time he enjoyed handball and was a member of the San Diego Rowing Club. Weldon had a sharp interest in his backyard birds and kept the feeders filled and welcoming for avian visitors. Weldon’s professional accomplishments were many, including a lifetime achievement award from the San Diego Advertising Club. “He was a talent in the industry,” said Harry. “Even in the difficult media business, he was honest, with the highest level of integrity, and always took care of his customers.” Perhaps his greatest achievement was raising his three children, Glen, Valerie, and John, and traveling the world (Europe and the Caribbean were favorite destinations) with his beloved wife. “He was a fun-loving person and loved his family,” said Mary Barbara. When he became a grandfather, he was over the moon, eagerly showing off photos of his three granddaughters. Active in the marketing community, Weldon served on the board of directors for the Advertising Club of San Diego, the San Diego Advertising Emergency Relief Fund, the Television Bureau of Advertising, and the CBS Network Advisory Committee. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in economics from the University of Texas, El Paso, and served as a missile officer in the U.S. Army. But Weldon’s true legacy will be the levity and love he brought to all who knew him.