The community has lost a brilliant, kind and gentle human being. Dr. Don Janes, Jr. was a local physician, recently associated with The Open Door Community Health team at their walk in clinic on Buhne St. in Eureka. All who saw him in that capacity knew him to be present, intelligent, grounded and humble. His capacity for listening and actually hearing was boundless. This is a huge loss to the local medical community and to the community at large.

Don was raised in the Southeastern United States. He was an adept student who seemed to have a limitless capacity for retaining information about so many things. He graduated with an undergraduate degree from University of Florida in Gainesville. He then moved to California where he earned a Ph.D in Biology from University of California, Riverside. He went on to Medical School at University of California, Irvine. He was also a university level biology educator, hospital administrative chair and a clinical data researcher.

His friends were astonished at his knowledge base about all living creatures. He knew the life cycle, eating patterns and habitat of most any organism and could share all at any given moment when one simply showed him a remarkable picture of a specific unusual being. He was part of a research project on Desolation Island, a remote land mass in Antarctica that is home to many species of penguins. It was touching that the week of his death a new species of penguin was discovered on that island, one that had previously been thought to be a subspecies to the Gemtoo penguins but after DNA testing it was revealed that this one had its own distinct genetic profile. He would have been tickled by that news.

He was an accomplished photographer, having documented his many travels over this beautiful world. His adventures included Africa, South America, Antarctica, Mexico. He was fascinated by the natural beauty of the wilderness spaces. He loved to camp, hike, kayak and simply be outside in unadulterated nature. His interest in the natural world prompted his defense of all untamed spaces and his defense of all living creatures. He was vegetarian by choice because he felt it was not appropriate to eat other living beings. He saw this as a moral decision as well as a habit that was in the best interest of this planet.

Don was the kind of person who made the world better and all who had the great good fortune to know him through his friendship were blessed with his true friendship. His kindness and caring for his friends was unlimited. Always one to care, lean in and listen to a friend’s woes. He exemplified true altruistic habits of caring, listening, being present, leaning in. He encouraged everyone to be themselves, to not be afraid of owning their flaws, and to be honest, true and kind.

Don was a truly superior human. He is deeply missed and will be forever.

Rest in peace, Don.