Donald William Wegg

Donald (Don) William Wegg was born on January 28th, 1939, in Washington, D.C., the second of five children born to Talbot and Elizabeth Wegg. The family later relocated to Washington State, eventually settling on Bainbridge Island, WA, in the mid-1950s. Don graduated from Bainbridge Island High School in 1957.

Don loved participating in and watching sports. He was an excellent skier and won many skiing awards as a teenager. As a child, Don thoroughly enjoyed sailing with family and camping on Reef Island in the San Juan Islands. He continued sailing into adulthood owning a sailboat with friends. Don also played baseball in high school, college, and during his time in the military while stationed at the Presidio in San Francisco. He later learned to play golf, taking lessons to perfect his game. After retiring Don spent almost every day at the driving range or on the golf course and achieved a handicap of 17 and a golfer’s goal of scoring their age at 72.

Don’s interest in sports didn't stop at playing them. He was an avid fan of the UW Huskies and Seahawks football teams, Huskies and Sonics basketball, Mariners baseball, Sounders soccer, and Seattle Totems Hockey. Don's first date with his not-yet-wife, Priscilla, was at a Totems hockey game in the 1960s. When Priscilla became interested in college women's softball, Don also took a keen interest in the sport, and they attended many UW softball games. Don also enjoyed spectating at his daughters' sporting events: swimming, tennis, softball, and gymnastics, and most recently, at his grandchildren's baseball and soccer games.

His preference being sports, Don's post-high school studies were initially interrupted by various life events including a move to California, work, skiing, and military service. He eventually returned to Seattle and completed his undergraduate studies, achieving his bachelor’s degree in international business from the University of Washington (UW). Don got his master’s degree at the University of Puget Sound and later, a counseling degree, specializing in Drug and Alcohol Addiction Recovery, from Seattle University. While studying at UW, Don worked for Osborn and Ulland Sporting Goods, where he met his wife, Priscilla. Don and Priscilla dated for four and a half years before marrying on June 20th, 1970. They later had two daughters: Stephanie (born 1979) and Allison (born 1981).

Don also enjoyed traveling, was a voracious reader of both fiction and non-fiction, and was a jack-of-all-trades handyman. He was generous with his time and talents, particularly as they related to construction and property management. Don, with two friends and business partners, spearheaded the conversion of old Bainbridge Island military barracks into waterfront condominiums, a pioneering project there. After retiring as a mental health and substance abuse counselor from Group Health in the early 2000s, Don remained active in the recovery community, supporting many in the recovery process and maintaining his own sobriety for close to 45 years. Don also stayed busy driving cars at an auto auction, doing projects around the house or for neighbors, friends, and family, playing golf, and consuming both printed and televised news.

Don passed away on January 9th, 2025, from complications related to dementia. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Priscilla, his daughters, Stephanie Schindele and Allison Wegg, his son-in-law Devin, and grandchildren Eleanor and Dain. He is also survived by his siblings Steve Wegg, Susan Busey, and Elizabeth Jones and brother-in-law Doug; his uncle Peter Zimmerman and wife, Judy, and aunt Mary Teeters; and many cousins, a niece and six nephews, and a grandniece and three grandnephews. Don was preceded in death by his parents, Talbot and Elizabeth, and his older brother T.K.

A celebration of life is planned for early spring. In lieu of flowers or other gifts, please consider donating in Don's name to one of the following organizations:

• Seattle Union Gospel Mission at give.ugm.org

• The Addiction, Drug, and Alcohol Institute at the University of Washington at adai.uw.edu

• Dementia Society of America at https://www.dementiasociety.org/donate