Vestry - Class of 2029

Don is a lifelong Episcopalian who joined St. Peter’s in the fall of 2012. A native Californian, he was born in Bakersfield and attended California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, where he majored in Biochemistry and graduated in 1977. He also holds a Master of Science degree in Biology from Bowling Green State University. Over the course of his career, Don served as a combat medic, hospital administrator, clinical laboratory scientist, and specialist in blood banking and transfusion medicine. Following his military service, Don worked for the American Red Cross in multiple locations, an independent blood center in Sacramento, and ultimately at UC San Diego Health. He retired from civilian service in 2018. Don has been a Rotarian since 2004 and served as president of the Rotary Club of Del Mar during the 2018–2019 year. He was District Governor in 2023–2024, overseeing 64 Rotary clubs across San Diego and Imperial Counties. Don married Donna McIlwain in 1975 after meeting at Cal Poly. They have two children: Aaron, married to Colleen, with sons Burnie and Ben; and April, married to Ray, with children Charlie and Caroline.