Donna was born July 1, 1935. She married Richard Cummings, who in 1965 worked at Friendly Acres Water Company, and they lived at 502 Spring Street in Redwood City, between Cedar and Beech Streets. Her son Richard Mark Cummings was born May 24, 1955.
Donna was a loving daughter; friend; and mother to her son. She taught her son kindness, and her encouragement, generosity, and grace were a blessing to her family and everyone who knew her. Donna's son Richard was one of the greatest rock guitarists that ever lived. As soon as he heard the Beatles when he was eight years old, he asked for a guitar, and he had the greatest natural talent of anyone ever born. By age 15 in 1970, he played the music of every rock guitarist he admired so well, if you closed your eyes you'd have thought it was Jimi Hendrix, Pete Townshend, Keith Richards (his favorites) playing; then Richard would start playing his own compositions, and his friends and admirers would be in awe. Donna completely encouraged Richard's desire to "be a rock star": she let him have the rock star clothes and haircut Richard wanted, and she bought him every great guitar that he wanted: Les Pauls, SGs (he liked Gibsons), Dobro, Dan Armstrong clear acrylic, Thunderbird, Rickenbacker, you name it, he had one and played it like no one else. His friend Carol would just sit spellbound watching him play, until he would get embarrassed and start telling jokes instead. If there had been justice in the world, and the music industry hadn't changed so much in the 1970s when Richard came of age and the industry moved to LA, if Richard had been a few years older and able to take part in the San Francisco music scene that led to the stardom of Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, the Grateful Dead, and so forth, Richard would have been the rock star everyone believed he was going to be and deserved. He had the talent, and the looks and the personality; and he and his best friend Mike DuCray (drums and bass) and Mike Gibbs (guitarist extraordinaire) would have been a fantastic band together, hopefully with their friend Mike's sister as their lead singer (though her brother Mike never, ever wanted her in the band: "Girls don't belong in rock bands," he proclaimed, although he loved Fairport Convention/Sandy Denny, Kate Bush, the women in the B-52s, etc.). Donna even retained her equanimity when Richard went through his smashing-his-guitars-like-Pete-Townshend phase (which made his friend Carol plead with him, on several occasions and with several great guitars, "Please, please give it to me instead, don't smash it, my parents can't afford to buy me a guitar!" His commitment to the "art" of guitar-smashing was remarkable: he had a time smashing the Dan Armstrong, but he managed to destroy it. To his credit, years later Richard told Carol, "I should have let you have those guitars. It was stupid to smash them." To which Carol wished she could go back in time with a time machine, and rescue those guitars).
Donna worked for many years for San Mateo County as a data processing specialist. Her office was in the Hall of Justice and Records in Redwood City, beside the Sheriff's Office. In 1962, she lived at 545 Cassia Street, and was a typist with the San Mateo County Assessor's Office; her husband was not listed as living there, and she did not own the home, which was owned by her son Richard's grandparents (unknown if they were Donna's parents, or her parents-in-law/husband's parents). In 1964 she was a clerk typist for the San Mateo County Assessor's Office, and her residence was at 821 Beech Street in Redwood City, between Spring Street and Bay Road. In 1965, she was a clerk for the San Mateo County Assessor's Office, and she was living with her husband Richard at 502 Spring Street, between Beech and Cedar. In 1976, she lived at 587 Cassia Street, where she lived for many years into the 1990s. She owned the apartment building, and her son Richard's grandparents lived in the house next door at 545 Cassia Street. (In 1993, she moved to 709 Old County Road in Belmont, apartment J. Her son Richard's Uncle Bob also lived at the same complex, unknown if he was Donna's brother or brother-in-law). In 1976, she and her husband were listed in the city directory living separately; he owned the home he lived in at 816 Hopkins Avenue, between Arguello and Warren, a block from "Tank Park" (Mezes Park, which has an old Army tank kids used to love to climb into in the 1960s; it's sealed closed now, unfortunately). Donna and her husband Richard were listed as living together only in 1965, of the directories found so far; and he was listed in only two directories found so far, in 1965 listed with his wife Donna, and in 1976 living in his owned home at 816 Hopkins Avenue. Donna's son Richard was never known as "Richard, Junior"; maybe he and his father had different middle names, which was the case with four generations of Justin Ducrays in Richard's friend Carol DuCray's family. Donna's son Richard's friends never knew his dad; when a friend asked Richard about his dad once, Richard said that his father was, well, an impolite word implying he was not pleasant to know. The friend never inquired further. She didn't even know whether Richard's father was living at the time, although in 2015, he was found in the city directory in 1976; he was living at the time that Richard's friend asked about him.
Donna was a dear friend, warm, quiet, good humored, and welcoming. She always spoke well of people. Her home had lovely art and music, and she always made company feel at home. She was a thoughtful hostess and lady. Her friendship was a blessing. Donna lived her Christian faith every day. She passed her intelligence, kindness, and faith to Richard. She was an absolutely trustworthy person who always thought of others. She set an example of friendship, modesty, and virtue.
She left this Earth early, on September 24, 2000, at age 65 years, and her son did also, on May 19, 2001, at 45 years old, 6 days before his 46th birthday. We know they are in Heaven, where they will welcome us. Richard's "Uncle Bob" Cummings arranged Donna's memorial, through the Neptune Society, per her wishes.
Donna was a loving daughter; friend; and mother to her son. She taught her son kindness, and her encouragement, generosity, and grace were a blessing to her family and everyone who knew her. Donna's son Richard was one of the greatest rock guitarists that ever lived. As soon as he heard the Beatles when he was eight years old, he asked for a guitar, and he had the greatest natural talent of anyone ever born. By age 15 in 1970, he played the music of every rock guitarist he admired so well, if you closed your eyes you'd have thought it was Jimi Hendrix, Pete Townshend, Keith Richards (his favorites) playing; then Richard would start playing his own compositions, and his friends and admirers would be in awe. Donna completely encouraged Richard's desire to "be a rock star": she let him have the rock star clothes and haircut Richard wanted, and she bought him every great guitar that he wanted: Les Pauls, SGs (he liked Gibsons), Dobro, Dan Armstrong clear acrylic, Thunderbird, Rickenbacker, you name it, he had one and played it like no one else. His friend Carol would just sit spellbound watching him play, until he would get embarrassed and start telling jokes instead. If there had been justice in the world, and the music industry hadn't changed so much in the 1970s when Richard came of age and the industry moved to LA, if Richard had been a few years older and able to take part in the San Francisco music scene that led to the stardom of Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, the Grateful Dead, and so forth, Richard would have been the rock star everyone believed he was going to be and deserved. He had the talent, and the looks and the personality; and he and his best friend Mike DuCray (drums and bass) and Mike Gibbs (guitarist extraordinaire) would have been a fantastic band together, hopefully with their friend Mike's sister as their lead singer (though her brother Mike never, ever wanted her in the band: "Girls don't belong in rock bands," he proclaimed, although he loved Fairport Convention/Sandy Denny, Kate Bush, the women in the B-52s, etc.). Donna even retained her equanimity when Richard went through his smashing-his-guitars-like-Pete-Townshend phase (which made his friend Carol plead with him, on several occasions and with several great guitars, "Please, please give it to me instead, don't smash it, my parents can't afford to buy me a guitar!" His commitment to the "art" of guitar-smashing was remarkable: he had a time smashing the Dan Armstrong, but he managed to destroy it. To his credit, years later Richard told Carol, "I should have let you have those guitars. It was stupid to smash them." To which Carol wished she could go back in time with a time machine, and rescue those guitars).
Donna worked for many years for San Mateo County as a data processing specialist. Her office was in the Hall of Justice and Records in Redwood City, beside the Sheriff's Office. In 1962, she lived at 545 Cassia Street, and was a typist with the San Mateo County Assessor's Office; her husband was not listed as living there, and she did not own the home, which was owned by her son Richard's grandparents (unknown if they were Donna's parents, or her parents-in-law/husband's parents). In 1964 she was a clerk typist for the San Mateo County Assessor's Office, and her residence was at 821 Beech Street in Redwood City, between Spring Street and Bay Road. In 1965, she was a clerk for the San Mateo County Assessor's Office, and she was living with her husband Richard at 502 Spring Street, between Beech and Cedar. In 1976, she lived at 587 Cassia Street, where she lived for many years into the 1990s. She owned the apartment building, and her son Richard's grandparents lived in the house next door at 545 Cassia Street. (In 1993, she moved to 709 Old County Road in Belmont, apartment J. Her son Richard's Uncle Bob also lived at the same complex, unknown if he was Donna's brother or brother-in-law). In 1976, she and her husband were listed in the city directory living separately; he owned the home he lived in at 816 Hopkins Avenue, between Arguello and Warren, a block from "Tank Park" (Mezes Park, which has an old Army tank kids used to love to climb into in the 1960s; it's sealed closed now, unfortunately). Donna and her husband Richard were listed as living together only in 1965, of the directories found so far; and he was listed in only two directories found so far, in 1965 listed with his wife Donna, and in 1976 living in his owned home at 816 Hopkins Avenue. Donna's son Richard was never known as "Richard, Junior"; maybe he and his father had different middle names, which was the case with four generations of Justin Ducrays in Richard's friend Carol DuCray's family. Donna's son Richard's friends never knew his dad; when a friend asked Richard about his dad once, Richard said that his father was, well, an impolite word implying he was not pleasant to know. The friend never inquired further. She didn't even know whether Richard's father was living at the time, although in 2015, he was found in the city directory in 1976; he was living at the time that Richard's friend asked about him.
Donna was a dear friend, warm, quiet, good humored, and welcoming. She always spoke well of people. Her home had lovely art and music, and she always made company feel at home. She was a thoughtful hostess and lady. Her friendship was a blessing. Donna lived her Christian faith every day. She passed her intelligence, kindness, and faith to Richard. She was an absolutely trustworthy person who always thought of others. She set an example of friendship, modesty, and virtue.
She left this Earth early, on September 24, 2000, at age 65 years, and her son did also, on May 19, 2001, at 45 years old, 6 days before his 46th birthday. We know they are in Heaven, where they will welcome us. Richard's "Uncle Bob" Cummings arranged Donna's memorial, through the Neptune Society, per her wishes.
Donna was born July 1, 1935. She married Richard Cummings, who in 1965 worked at Friendly Acres Water Company, and they lived at 502 Spring Street in Redwood City, between Cedar and Beech Streets. Her son Richard Mark Cummings was born May 24, 1955.
Donna was a loving daughter; friend; and mother to her son. She taught her son kindness, and her encouragement, generosity, and grace were a blessing to her family and everyone who knew her. Donna's son Richard was one of the greatest rock guitarists that ever lived. As soon as he heard the Beatles when he was eight years old, he asked for a guitar, and he had the greatest natural talent of anyone ever born. By age 15 in 1970, he played the music of every rock guitarist he admired so well, if you closed your eyes you'd have thought it was Jimi Hendrix, Pete Townshend, Keith Richards (his favorites) playing; then Richard would start playing his own compositions, and his friends and admirers would be in awe. Donna completely encouraged Richard's desire to "be a rock star": she let him have the rock star clothes and haircut Richard wanted, and she bought him every great guitar that he wanted: Les Pauls, SGs (he liked Gibsons), Dobro, Dan Armstrong clear acrylic, Thunderbird, Rickenbacker, you name it, he had one and played it like no one else. His friend Carol would just sit spellbound watching him play, until he would get embarrassed and start telling jokes instead. If there had been justice in the world, and the music industry hadn't changed so much in the 1970s when Richard came of age and the industry moved to LA, if Richard had been a few years older and able to take part in the San Francisco music scene that led to the stardom of Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, the Grateful Dead, and so forth, Richard would have been the rock star everyone believed he was going to be and deserved. He had the talent, and the looks and the personality; and he and his best friend Mike DuCray (drums and bass) and Mike Gibbs (guitarist extraordinaire) would have been a fantastic band together, hopefully with their friend Mike's sister as their lead singer (though her brother Mike never, ever wanted her in the band: "Girls don't belong in rock bands," he proclaimed, although he loved Fairport Convention/Sandy Denny, Kate Bush, the women in the B-52s, etc.). Donna even retained her equanimity when Richard went through his smashing-his-guitars-like-Pete-Townshend phase (which made his friend Carol plead with him, on several occasions and with several great guitars, "Please, please give it to me instead, don't smash it, my parents can't afford to buy me a guitar!" His commitment to the "art" of guitar-smashing was remarkable: he had a time smashing the Dan Armstrong, but he managed to destroy it. To his credit, years later Richard told Carol, "I should have let you have those guitars. It was stupid to smash them." To which Carol wished she could go back in time with a time machine, and rescue those guitars).
Donna worked for many years for San Mateo County as a data processing specialist. Her office was in the Hall of Justice and Records in Redwood City, beside the Sheriff's Office. In 1962, she lived at 545 Cassia Street, and was a typist with the San Mateo County Assessor's Office; her husband was not listed as living there, and she did not own the home, which was owned by her son Richard's grandparents (unknown if they were Donna's parents, or her parents-in-law/husband's parents). In 1964 she was a clerk typist for the San Mateo County Assessor's Office, and her residence was at 821 Beech Street in Redwood City, between Spring Street and Bay Road. In 1965, she was a clerk for the San Mateo County Assessor's Office, and she was living with her husband Richard at 502 Spring Street, between Beech and Cedar. In 1976, she lived at 587 Cassia Street, where she lived for many years into the 1990s. She owned the apartment building, and her son Richard's grandparents lived in the house next door at 545 Cassia Street. (In 1993, she moved to 709 Old County Road in Belmont, apartment J. Her son Richard's Uncle Bob also lived at the same complex, unknown if he was Donna's brother or brother-in-law). In 1976, she and her husband were listed in the city directory living separately; he owned the home he lived in at 816 Hopkins Avenue, between Arguello and Warren, a block from "Tank Park" (Mezes Park, which has an old Army tank kids used to love to climb into in the 1960s; it's sealed closed now, unfortunately). Donna and her husband Richard were listed as living together only in 1965, of the directories found so far; and he was listed in only two directories found so far, in 1965 listed with his wife Donna, and in 1976 living in his owned home at 816 Hopkins Avenue. Donna's son Richard was never known as "Richard, Junior"; maybe he and his father had different middle names, which was the case with four generations of Justin Ducrays in Richard's friend Carol DuCray's family. Donna's son Richard's friends never knew his dad; when a friend asked Richard about his dad once, Richard said that his father was, well, an impolite word implying he was not pleasant to know. The friend never inquired further. She didn't even know whether Richard's father was living at the time, although in 2015, he was found in the city directory in 1976; he was living at the time that Richard's friend asked about him.
Donna was a dear friend, warm, quiet, good humored, and welcoming. She always spoke well of people. Her home had lovely art and music, and she always made company feel at home. She was a thoughtful hostess and lady. Her friendship was a blessing. Donna lived her Christian faith every day. She passed her intelligence, kindness, and faith to Richard. She was an absolutely trustworthy person who always thought of others. She set an example of friendship, modesty, and virtue.
She left this Earth early, on September 24, 2000, at age 65 years, and her son did also, on May 19, 2001, at 45 years old, 6 days before his 46th birthday. We know they are in Heaven, where they will welcome us. Richard's "Uncle Bob" Cummings arranged Donna's memorial, through the Neptune Society, per her wishes.
Donna was a loving daughter; friend; and mother to her son. She taught her son kindness, and her encouragement, generosity, and grace were a blessing to her family and everyone who knew her. Donna's son Richard was one of the greatest rock guitarists that ever lived. As soon as he heard the Beatles when he was eight years old, he asked for a guitar, and he had the greatest natural talent of anyone ever born. By age 15 in 1970, he played the music of every rock guitarist he admired so well, if you closed your eyes you'd have thought it was Jimi Hendrix, Pete Townshend, Keith Richards (his favorites) playing; then Richard would start playing his own compositions, and his friends and admirers would be in awe. Donna completely encouraged Richard's desire to "be a rock star": she let him have the rock star clothes and haircut Richard wanted, and she bought him every great guitar that he wanted: Les Pauls, SGs (he liked Gibsons), Dobro, Dan Armstrong clear acrylic, Thunderbird, Rickenbacker, you name it, he had one and played it like no one else. His friend Carol would just sit spellbound watching him play, until he would get embarrassed and start telling jokes instead. If there had been justice in the world, and the music industry hadn't changed so much in the 1970s when Richard came of age and the industry moved to LA, if Richard had been a few years older and able to take part in the San Francisco music scene that led to the stardom of Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, the Grateful Dead, and so forth, Richard would have been the rock star everyone believed he was going to be and deserved. He had the talent, and the looks and the personality; and he and his best friend Mike DuCray (drums and bass) and Mike Gibbs (guitarist extraordinaire) would have been a fantastic band together, hopefully with their friend Mike's sister as their lead singer (though her brother Mike never, ever wanted her in the band: "Girls don't belong in rock bands," he proclaimed, although he loved Fairport Convention/Sandy Denny, Kate Bush, the women in the B-52s, etc.). Donna even retained her equanimity when Richard went through his smashing-his-guitars-like-Pete-Townshend phase (which made his friend Carol plead with him, on several occasions and with several great guitars, "Please, please give it to me instead, don't smash it, my parents can't afford to buy me a guitar!" His commitment to the "art" of guitar-smashing was remarkable: he had a time smashing the Dan Armstrong, but he managed to destroy it. To his credit, years later Richard told Carol, "I should have let you have those guitars. It was stupid to smash them." To which Carol wished she could go back in time with a time machine, and rescue those guitars).
Donna worked for many years for San Mateo County as a data processing specialist. Her office was in the Hall of Justice and Records in Redwood City, beside the Sheriff's Office. In 1962, she lived at 545 Cassia Street, and was a typist with the San Mateo County Assessor's Office; her husband was not listed as living there, and she did not own the home, which was owned by her son Richard's grandparents (unknown if they were Donna's parents, or her parents-in-law/husband's parents). In 1964 she was a clerk typist for the San Mateo County Assessor's Office, and her residence was at 821 Beech Street in Redwood City, between Spring Street and Bay Road. In 1965, she was a clerk for the San Mateo County Assessor's Office, and she was living with her husband Richard at 502 Spring Street, between Beech and Cedar. In 1976, she lived at 587 Cassia Street, where she lived for many years into the 1990s. She owned the apartment building, and her son Richard's grandparents lived in the house next door at 545 Cassia Street. (In 1993, she moved to 709 Old County Road in Belmont, apartment J. Her son Richard's Uncle Bob also lived at the same complex, unknown if he was Donna's brother or brother-in-law). In 1976, she and her husband were listed in the city directory living separately; he owned the home he lived in at 816 Hopkins Avenue, between Arguello and Warren, a block from "Tank Park" (Mezes Park, which has an old Army tank kids used to love to climb into in the 1960s; it's sealed closed now, unfortunately). Donna and her husband Richard were listed as living together only in 1965, of the directories found so far; and he was listed in only two directories found so far, in 1965 listed with his wife Donna, and in 1976 living in his owned home at 816 Hopkins Avenue. Donna's son Richard was never known as "Richard, Junior"; maybe he and his father had different middle names, which was the case with four generations of Justin Ducrays in Richard's friend Carol DuCray's family. Donna's son Richard's friends never knew his dad; when a friend asked Richard about his dad once, Richard said that his father was, well, an impolite word implying he was not pleasant to know. The friend never inquired further. She didn't even know whether Richard's father was living at the time, although in 2015, he was found in the city directory in 1976; he was living at the time that Richard's friend asked about him.
Donna was a dear friend, warm, quiet, good humored, and welcoming. She always spoke well of people. Her home had lovely art and music, and she always made company feel at home. She was a thoughtful hostess and lady. Her friendship was a blessing. Donna lived her Christian faith every day. She passed her intelligence, kindness, and faith to Richard. She was an absolutely trustworthy person who always thought of others. She set an example of friendship, modesty, and virtue.
She left this Earth early, on September 24, 2000, at age 65 years, and her son did also, on May 19, 2001, at 45 years old, 6 days before his 46th birthday. We know they are in Heaven, where they will welcome us. Richard's "Uncle Bob" Cummings arranged Donna's memorial, through the Neptune Society, per her wishes.
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