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Does anyone know (i'm almost positive someone here will) how and when Donnie Hunt died ?
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Although it's been 5 years since the original post, I'll respond here in the hopes that anyone concerned will get a chance to read it.
As the SF Chronicle obit noted, Donnie did indeed die from complications of AIDS. He actually lived in Oakland, on the East side, but not quite in San Leandro.
Starting when I was in the 6th grade, Donnie was our local recreation center counselor. He took large groups of youngsters on hiking and skiing trips throughout the years. Many of us remained close friends with him as we passed through high school and into adulthood.
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There's a guy in San Fransisco that owns the majority of his canvases. He owns a skyscraper and they're all on display there. Unfortunately I don't know who he is or where the building is.
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The writer is likely thinking about the Tribune Tower in Oakland, which was owned by one of us who knew Donnie since grade school.
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As noted in the Wikipedia article, John sold the building a few years ago; I don't know the status of the art that had been on display there.
Another of Donnie's longtime admirers is the author Suzan Finnamore, who's first novel contains a fictional scene of the death of a fictional character that is based in spirit and love on Donnie's passing.
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At the memorial service referenced in the obituary, one of Donnie's friends (from another circle, whom I did not/do not know) spoke of putting together an art book; I signed a list he passed around, but I never heard anything about it.
I was able to buy one of the T-Shirts that were printed for his service that day, and I value it greatly (I was about to post a digi-pix of it, but decided I don't want to contribute to putting his work out on the internet; doesn't seem right).
I still think of Donnie often. I miss his wisdom and his Southern drawl and his great spirit.
(sorry about the camouflaged URLs, but the system won't let me link as a new user; guess I wouldn't have been able to post the picture after all...)
