Family Remembrance

Family Remembrance:

I am Nancy Sutherland, Don’s Daughter-In-Law…his son Bruce’s wife.

Don Sutherland A Merciful Man….

Shakespeare said:

The quality of mercy is not strained,       

It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven  Upon the place beneath.

It is twice blest:  It blesses him that gives and him that takes.

Don was a merciful, compassionate man…it was a quality that marked his life to the end.

You all have an obituary in your programs but we wanted to take an opportunity to slightly expand on a few points in Don’s life:

1. Don was an original California boy—he loved the sun, Valencia oranges from his family orange grove, and the outdoors.

The bicycle accident that changed his life is mentioned in the obituary. Don wrote a long story that centered around how he and his sisters were trying to obtain an anniversary gift for his parents. He had to go to the store on his bicycle to get the gift. Just before leaving he ate cold potatoes and peanut butter—this was the start of a reported lifetime love of peanut butter. He crashed his bicycle and ended up with a serious head injury and remained in a coma for several days. He reports receiving incredible care from his personal physician, Dr. Domann. Dr. Domann’s merciful intervention and interest inspired him to go into medicine.

2.  We have received numerous accounts in the online guest book and in messages from family, friends, and strangers about the impact of Don’s medical practice on the Bellevue and Seattle communities. Don was one of the founding members of the Bellevue Clinic. The Bellevue Clinic brought primary care to the Eastside in the early days of Bellevue and over many years. Our children received their pediatric care from their Grandpa.  Not too many children get excited to go to the doctor. However in our household, going to the doctor meant being treated like a prince or princess by office staff and getting to go to Grandpa’s office afterward for candy.  The occasional rude shock of receiving a shot was overshadowed by the positives in these visits.  Although I wonder if Lois still bears bruises from trying to give David (our youngest son) immunizations.  All in all, the clinic visits were a calm, pleasant, good experience with their grandfather and his quiet, merciful ways.

3.  I was blessed to receive Don’s mercy when in high school; Bruce and I had been dating a few months when I accidentally opened my father’s car door into side of my left eye.  The gash bled heavily and was gaping. My parents were loathe to take us to doctors unless absolutely necessary and this injury was deemed to be not in need of more than a bandaid. When I arrived at Bellevue High School with my bandaid leaking blood, Bruce asked me what happened? I burst into tears—it really hurt and I was worried about it. He called his Dad and explained the situation. We were allowed to leave school and we went to the Bellevue Clinic—Don checked the laceration and saw it needed stitching. After a telephone consultation w/ my parents, I received 5 stitches.  A wound that would have left an unsightly facial scar was skillfully repaired and is barely visible today.  When I tried to pay for the services after the stitches were removed, I was told to keep my money; Dr. Sutherland had taken care of things. 

Mercy blesses those that both give and receive.

4.  Don took such joy in the visions and simple pleasures we enjoy as humans.  He was quick to point out a lovely sunset, vista, or flower. He so enjoyed creating works of art in wood carving or admiring and acquiring artwork to grace and beautify his home.  His love of things “beautiful” was “as gentle rain…twice blest.” 

5.  Genetics are a wonderful and “merciful” thing.  Although Don has now left us, I see his legacy lives directly in my family. His Grandson Greg has his quiet, methodical, and caring ways.  His Granddaughter Lea has his keen intelligence and insight.  Most surprising and actually comforting is that the sound of his voice is still with us…Talk to my husband Bruce and our youngest son David. Especially if you call these men on the telephone, you will be amazed at the vocal similarity.  His voice lives on in Bruce and David… perhaps one day we will hear it in one of the great grandsons Ethan, Caleb, or Kyle when they become men as well. What a blessing that would be.

6.  Finally Don’s love for Jody was a thing to behold in this last year and especially in his last few days. Last Spring Don had a “near brush with death.”  He was in critical condition but obviously survived that crisis. As we gathered around him, Jody’s health was such that she was unable to be at his side; he was very ill but his only complaint was that he wished “Jode” could be with him.

In the few days before he passed recently, I told Jody she was a real “warrior.”  After a lifetime of extending kindness and mercy to others, in his pain all he wanted was Jody at his side and to hold his hand as he dealt with his final moments.  Many of you know that Jody has health issues and even to provide this took extreme courage and strength, something she surprised us with that she had in reserve.

Jody, thank you for the incredible gift of love over the years and especially most recently that you demonstrated to Don; it was also a gift of love and mercy to us all. 

I count myself as truly blessed to be a part of Don’s family and to have known him. 

God have mercy on his soul.