DONALD PHALEN

Condolences & Memories (14 entries)

• I'd like to thank Don for his work. At Rideau Hall his loon that won the 1992 World decoy carving championship is on display for the world to see. His family must be proud. - Posted by: Brendan Kirkpatrick (none) on: Jun 25, 2015

• Thinking of all of you with deepest sympathy. - Posted by: Lenore Clemens (friend) on: Jun 12, 2013

• "Don was a very good boss and wonderful man with a lovely wife. I am very sad to hear he has passed away." - Posted by: Alice Neville (old friend and YMCA co-worker) on: Jun 05, 2013

• My happiest memories of Uncle Don are from the family cottages near Parry Sound and cover a great number of years. Many occurred over "Happy Hour" a regular feature of our cottage life. This almost daily social occasion caused us to reflect on our good fortune of wonderful family and surroundings. Early in our cottage days, Uncle Don built a sail boat. This no doubt inspired me to try my hand at building several boats myself. The first one was hydroplane racing boat which floated away one day. It was Uncle Don who came to the rescue and found it beached way down the channel. My second attempt was a sailboat. Based on Uncle Don's unfortunate experience with metal centreboards that sink, I went with a wooden centreboard. But my most vivid memories are of him working on the cottage he built largely by hand and by himself , especially the amazing stone wall and fireplace. It is a marvel of hard work and patience and skill. Years after he finished, I shared on article on building stonewalls with him from a Harrowsmith magazine. He said the key message of the article, which he firmly believed in himself, was just to start building and not to worry unduly about potential problems and just get on with it and you can sort the issues out as needed. A great approach to building stone walls and many other things in life. Another Harrowsmith article I showed him was about carving water fowl out of wood. This was in his early days of duck wood carving, but it was very clear the passion and focus was already there and it was very interesting to me as he explained the techniques and methods used in the pictures in the article. My fond memories of Uncle Don return whenever I see either fine wooden bird carvings or hand crafted stonewalls. - Posted by: Douglas Isaac (nephew and godson) on: Jun 02, 2013

• One of the reasons I looked forward to attending the Winnipeg carving show was to see Don and get a hug from Matti--we will miss but always remember those blue eyes and that wonderful warm smile. Don was the measuring stick against which I measured my own progress in carving--he always set the bar higher and higher each year. You are in our thoughts Matti--may all your good memories comfort you. Best wishes, Harvey Welch - Posted by: Harvey Welch (Friend and fellow carver) on: Jun 01, 2013

• What can I say about my beloved Uncle Don? He was my second father. He would always find the humour in everything, but there were times when he let you have it, always in a quiet tone and with a loving manner. Prior to our marriage, he gave my husband very direct advice to take good care of me always (he has!) and then there was the day when he gave my cousin Bruce and my husband, Bob, sage advice after they had made a few 'interesting' waterskiing moves! We miss the good old days on the Phalen's deck sipping Uncle Don's famous G&T's. It gives me great peace to imagine my mom and dad and my Auntie Dorothy greeting Uncle Don in heaven and inviting him to the party! - Posted by: Jyll Norris (niece) on: Jun 01, 2013

• Don was, as Hal said above, inspiring and a true leader in every sense of the word. Because of him I had the opportunity to go and work for the Caracas YMCA and then he hired me for my first full time position at the Winnipeg YMCA. - Posted by: Brian Law (Former Employee and Friend) on: Jun 01, 2013

• My condolences mrs Phalen, dawn and Bruce. Love, Louise Fanson. - Posted by: Louise Condy (Dawn's friend) on: Jun 01, 2013

• I guess it's normal not to realize how special a person is when one is a kid and that person is an adult in one's extended family. But at some point I became aware of how extraordinarily talented my Uncle Don was. Not just in outer things like managing a demanding executive job while mastering the art of carving to the point of championship; or building a cottage solo on a huge high rock on a bug-infested island with just a little 5 1/2 horse powered boat; but inwardly as well. Uncle Don had a conspicuous talent for being happy. My husband talks of how impressive it was, when he visited Don and Matti a few years ago and Don told him he could no longer carve, but was cheerfully philosophic about it, not down as others might have been. Ken found it inspirational. I personally experienced another of his great talents: the ability to combine quiet authority with cheerful good humour. I remember well his no-nonsense discipline, usually targeting my more high-spirited cousin Dawn, though as her sidekick I was included and suitably chastised. But I also recall moments when he rescued us cousins from the well-meaning interference of several aunts or mothers with a joke or just a chuckle that would lighten the mood (and allow us to escape!) I'm so glad I saw him in January, frailer but still laughing and lovingly supportive - so sad I won't see him again. - Posted by: Jan Norris (niece) on: Jun 01, 2013

• Matti my very deepest sympathy to you and your family in your loss of your beloved husband Donald - Posted by: Beth Ariss (fiend from H.O.P.E.) on: Jun 01, 2013

• An awesome boss, an inspiring mentor and a true friend. I will miss our chance meetings at Old Downtown Y and the opportunity to reminisce about what the great Y staff and volunteer team that he created, accomplished in "The Phalen Era." - Posted by: Hal Studholme (Former colleague Winnipeg YMCA) on: Jun 01, 2013

• We were very lucky to have Uncle Don with us for so many years, but it is still so sad to know that we will never hear his laugh again. Uncle Don was a wonderful uncle. He was so much fun, had a great sense of humour and a wonderful, pragmatic ability to cut to the chase. He’d listen to members of the Isaac clan discussing some issue, often spiritedly and at length, and then quietly come out with a very practical suggestion. My most precious wedding gift is the loon Uncle Don carved for Larry and me in 1984, it was one of his first “ducks” and while he spent years after perfecting his carving, I wouldn’t trade that loon for anything. Uncle Don put his heart in it, for us, and both Larry and I love it. Uncle Don loved the waters of Georgian Bay and the cottage. I like the story that when Uncle Frank became aware of this land for sale on Isabella Island and some of the sisters and husbands went up to view the land, Matti was not able to go so she gave instructions to Don, that under no circumstances was he to buy any property. And guess what he did… We were very sad when he and Matti determined the time had come to sell the precious cottage on Isabella Island. We have missed them very much up there but the memories of good times shared and wonderful meals will never be forgotten. This summer we will enjoy G&Ts in Don’s memory watching the sun set over Parry Island. - Posted by: Janet Isaac Charbonneau (niece ) on: Jun 01, 2013

• Sincere condolences to Matti & family for your loss. My thoughts are with you. I appreciated and respected Don's high level of commitment and passion to anything he took on... be it family, work, hobbies... - Posted by: René Dupuis (former Y Colleague) on: May 31, 2013

• Don, I thank you for all those great Xmas's at our houses, all those ski trips, and great times at Moose Lake. Thank you for those childhood memories with our families. I will miss you a lot. You will always be forever in my heart. - Posted by: Cathy MacLean (family friend) on: May 31, 2013