Friday, April 9, 2021
I have many fond memories of my first cousin Donny (Daniel) who was a couple of years older than me. In our teenage years I admired Donny’s tenacity in his pursuit of serious body building. Large cans of protein powder could be found lined up the staircase to his bedroom. His focus and determination led to a Manitoba bodybuilding competition when he became Mr. Manitoba runner up! Donny and I lived with the Penny family in the early 1970’s at their large, diversified farm in Petersfield. Donny was an extraordinary individual, an intellect and a very hard worker. He was like a brother to not only me but to all the Penny siblings. He had a gift of the gab and was an excellent debater. There were many heated political arguments between Donny and our Uncle Bill, a staunch NDP supporter. We found these debates quite entertaining! Donny had a high degree of intelligence and we often thought he would be destined to become a criminal defence lawyer. Woven amongst Donny’s disabilities were his many abilities. He was a caring, strong and passionate advocate for the rights of people with disabilities. He advocated for those suffering with addictions. Conversations with Donny usually centred around his passion and efforts towards helping those in need. He was a wise man with an innate ability to listen and understand peoples’ various dilemmas. Donny’s life was a road full of twists and turns, upheaval, misfortunes and typical life nuances. He is now free from his struggles. May he now rest in peace.
Barry & Sandy Hurrie and family. Nanaimo, BC
