Jim Barger with Don 2002 Reunion

TOMAHAWK REUNION PHOTO 2002 in Sacramento
Pictured in the group photo: 
Standing back row -left to right: Bill McDonald, Don Baca, Mike Waugh,
Fred Harris, Bobby McBride, Chuck Olson.  Front row sitting - left to right:
Rolland Cronk, Ramon Mateo, and Jim Barger

All us Tomahawks send our prayers and love to Don's wife Sylvia and the family. Any cards or messages will be forwarded on to the family, if you send them to the Webmaster  on email, 
or send by USPS Mail to: 
C/O Bill McDonald 
Post Office Box 2441, Elk Grove, CA 95759-2441

SOME THOUGHTS FROM BILL

For those of us who got to know Don Baca, it was a very sad experience to hear of his passing this month. However, he left many of us with some good memories. 

I meet him in person for the first time last year, at the 128th AHC Reunion in Sacramento. He was there with his whole family. His lovely wife Sylvia was by his side. It was a real joy to watch them. It was evident to me, and to others,  that they were very much still in love after all these years. His smile was so warm when he looked at her or talked to his son. 

There were ten of us there, not counting friends and family members who joined us. Bobby McBride drove all the way down from Puyallup Washington to join us, along with my old Tomahawk neighbor in Elk Grove, James Barger . Ramon Mateo and his wife Gladys, drove up the short distance from Stockton; Chuck Olson and his wife Marilyn, flew in for the weekend from Minnesota; Fred Harris took time off from his Alaska Airlines job and came down from Auburn, Washington; Mike Waugh and his wife Chris made it from Liberty Township, Ohio; and then there was Don Baca and his whole family. He came in towing a motor-cycle behind a van. He was going to visit all his west coast relatives and do the reunion. It was like he needed to say hello and good-bye to everyone. Don was the center of attention at the reunion.

I spoke with him late one night after most the rest of the guys had gone off to their rooms. We talked about spiritual things and what was really valuable in life. IT was a wonderful talk. I could tell that he was afraid of death and was ready to face whatever he had to fighting his cancer. I believed then as I do now - that he kind of realized that there was very little time left. He still wanted to do so much. He even wanted to host the next Tomahawk reunion in New Orleans. It became very evident several months later on, that this task would prove to be too much for him to under take and so I cancelled the reunion. I did not want any extra pressure on him. 

At the reunion we joked around about how all of us were trying to act and feel young again - Don pointing out that just by changing our  names we could bring ourselves closer to our youth - like Donny, Billy, Bobby, Mikey, Chucky, Jimmy, and Freddy,. Of course, there was no hope for Ramon or Rolland - those names will forever remain old. Yes - Donny you will be forever young.

Don's passing hit close to home - since he was younger than me and also someone I had befriended. I admit to feeling sadden and for sure I will miss him - but I will never forget him! neither will all those Tomahawk brothers who meet him last year. Good-bye Don and God bless you..... Rev. Billy

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