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Sad news. Remembering billydonn

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Old 05-23-15, 05:12 AM
  #1  
Dan Burkhart 
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Sad news. Remembering billydonn

Hi all. Those of you that have been around here a while will remember Don Greer, aka billydonn. He has not posted here in some time, but I had been in contact with him and I was aware that he was dealing with some significant health issues.
Yesterday,his step daughter posted on his facebook page that he passed away.
I just thought his fiends and acquaintances here should know.
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Old 05-23-15, 07:28 AM
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Really sad to hear this - I missed his posting.
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Old 05-23-15, 07:32 AM
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Sad news, may he be riding with smooth roads and sunny skies.
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Old 05-23-15, 07:43 AM
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I pray his family and friends will be comforted in this time of loss. Thanx for the headsup.
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Old 05-23-15, 08:49 AM
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I met Don on a fifty-plus ride in Tenn. very nice man and great cyclist. RIP.
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Old 05-23-15, 09:49 AM
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Thank you for posting. Many of us do remember him. Best wishes to his friends and family.
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Old 05-23-15, 10:02 AM
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I also remember his posts .... I noticed he had not posted in a while and searched the forum for any recent posts. May he rest in peace.
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Old 05-23-15, 10:12 AM
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Originally Posted by Dan Burkhart
Hi all. Those of you that have been around here a while will remember Don Greer, aka billydonn. He has not posted here in some time, but I had been in contact with him and I was aware that he was dealing with some significant health issues.
Yesterday,his step daughter posted on his facebook page that he passed away.
I just thought his friends and acquaintances here should know.

Originally Posted by freedomrider1
I met Don on a fifty-plus ride in Tenn. very nice man and great cyclist. RIP.
Thanks, Dan, for that announcement; I was taken aback when I read the title. freedomrider1 refers to the Fourth Annual Fifty-Plus Ride. I had met fr1 on the Third Annual Ride, in Chelsea, MI in 2011, and billydonn was actively planning to come until the last minute when something intervened. The organizer, Road Fan and I had hoped to show billydonn around Ann Arbor, MI.

Originally Posted by billydonn
Is anyone going to Ann Arbor and staying in a motel in the metro area? If so, please post.

Originally Posted by billydonn
Jim,
I'm not really looking for a roomate. But I am interested in staying in and experiencing Ann Arbor (where Road Fan lives) and not so much in being 30 miles away. If anyone else is thinking that way we could at least select the same motel. If not, that's okay too.

Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
… As Road Fan touted, and I second, Ann Arbor is a vibrant place to visit….Please consider me as an additional guide for your stay…

Originally Posted by billydonn
As an Illinois alum, I have always been curious about the secondary cities of the Big Ten. I don't mean to say that I would not want to meet up with the campers of course....
Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
…One disappointment was that Billydonn couldn’t make it from Nebraska; he seemed to really want to visit Ann Arbor, and Road Fan and I wanted to show it off. …
Besides the Fourth Annual Ride in Tennessee, he was also on the First Ride, in Glenwood CO.

Though we never physically met, I did afterwards regularly read his posts, with pictures of his indoor training set-up. He seemed to be a gentleman and a true Road Warrior.
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Old 05-23-15, 10:22 AM
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I was able to meet up with Don for a bike ride a few years ago. We had a great time, he was a true gentleman.
He will be greatly missed.
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Old 05-23-15, 10:26 AM
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So sorry to hear this bad news. Regrets to his family and thanks to him for sharing a small part of his life with the rest of us.
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Old 05-23-15, 11:05 AM
  #11  
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Never met the man but I enjoyed his posts. He seemed to be a person who know how to live.
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Old 05-23-15, 11:52 AM
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I'm crushed. What a great soul. Don and I talked a good bit several years ago. I had the pleasure of meeting Don and sharing some roads with him at the first 50+ Ride in Glenwood Springs. I took a few photos of him while we were there. I think all the pictures I have of him were of him either riding or with his 50+ jersey on. As I recall he was more recently sporting a goatee the from some of the last pictures of him that I saw.

Many of you might recall his posts and pictures of riding the trainer with locals over the winter when the weather was too harsh to ride outdoors.

Very sad. I was looking forward to sharing the road with him again one day.

















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Old 05-23-15, 04:23 PM
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I was wondering why I haven't seen his postings lately. RIP billydon.
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Old 05-23-15, 04:52 PM
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His obituary
Donald Greer Obituary - Westlawn-Hillcrest Funeral Home | Omaha NE
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Old 05-23-15, 05:01 PM
  #15  
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Sad news. Thanks for letting us know.
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Old 05-23-15, 05:01 PM
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It would be nice if there was some way to let his family know what an inspiration he was here. Never met the guy, but always looked forward to his winter trainer posts. Didn't he recently do some cycling in Spain or Italy as well? At least he didn't leave without crossing a few items off of of his bucket list. Ride Happy, Don!
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Old 05-23-15, 05:18 PM
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Originally Posted by dalameda
It would be nice if there was some way to let his family know what an inspiration he was here. Never met the guy, but always looked forward to his winter trainer posts. Didn't he recently do some cycling in Spain or Italy as well? At least he didn't leave without crossing a few items off of of his bucket list. Ride Happy, Don!
You can sign in on his guess book at his OB.

https://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dig...2-726c7eb69254
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Old 05-23-15, 06:20 PM
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Here's a post from his blog where he talked about our ride together. It was a great time.

Don Greer Goes Bicycling: Catching Up: October Riding Was Good
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Old 05-23-15, 06:25 PM
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We're all too old to die young, but it always seems premature, whatever the age.
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Old 05-23-15, 06:29 PM
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Originally Posted by Dudelsack
We're all too old to die young, but it always seems premature, whatever the age.
Don was only 67. That is certainly too young.
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Old 05-23-15, 06:51 PM
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Old 05-23-15, 07:20 PM
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Man, This one hits close to home, I stayed in touch with Don since he had stopped posting here a while back. He was always positive about beating his problem, and that he would be back riding soon. I truly hate cancer, too many losses and too much stress from my mom's 4 battles so far, and all my friends that have dealt with it. Don's running threads about indoor training each winter were entertaining, I can see his, "Billydonn, The Man, The Myth", pose now. The commentary about his trip to Italy made a lot of great reading here, too.

Don read my griping about not having a HR meter, he then sent me a nice Polar HR unit. I was taken aback by his kindness and generosity, out of the blue. I try to use his manner as guide on how to love life, and cycling.

R.I.P. BillyDonn, Godspeed my friend. Mobile, AL has lost a son and I have lost a good friend.

Bill
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Old 05-24-15, 07:58 AM
  #23  
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Sorry to hear this. R.I.P., Billydon.

Cancer sucks!
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Old 05-24-15, 08:12 AM
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Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
Thanks, Dan, for that announcement; I was taken aback when I read the title. freedomrider1 refers to the Fourth Annual Fifty-Plus Ride. I had met fr1 on the Third Annual Ride, in Chelsea, MI in 2011, and billydonn was actively planning to come until the last minute when something intervened. The organizer, Road Fan and I had hoped to show billydonn around Ann Arbor, MI.




Besides the Fourth Annual Ride in Tennessee, he was also on the First Ride, in Glenwood CO.

Though we never physically met, I did afterwards regularly read his posts, with pictures of his indoor training set-up. He seemed to be a gentleman and a true Road Warrior.
Yes, Jim, exactly! I'm very glad he had planned to come and join us, and I wish I had met him in person before he passed on. I valued his inputs in our little chats here over the years.
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Old 05-24-15, 01:41 PM
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Originally Posted by Dan Burkhart
Hi all. Those of you that have been around here a while will remember Don Greer, aka billydonn. He has not posted here in some time, but I had been in contact with him and I was aware that he was dealing with some significant health issues.
Yesterday,his step daughter posted on his facebook page that he passed away.
I just thought his fiends and acquaintances here should know.
Sorry to hear this. When he visited Atlanta in 2010 I had a chance to ride with him. He was a nice guy.
Here's to ya.
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