Birth date: Apr 1, 1930 Death date: Apr 9, 2020
Born April 1, 1930 in Louisville, KY, to Edward F. Kaiser and Clarice Bachus Kaiser, Donald Gavin Kaiser, a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle, passed away peacefully at the age of 90 in Sarasota, FL. He was ma Read Obituary
My Dad, Melvin C Green and his friend Roland Robison from Utah served in Germany with Don and remember him as a competitor. Don and a man by the name of Griffin would often find was to compete against Mel and Roland. My Dad is 92, we watched the Kentucky Derby today and Dad remembered that Don’s Dad was involved with horses and the derby. Dad asked me to look Don up and we found this obituary.
I'm sorry for the lateness of this post. I will miss Don as he was one of my first tennis coaches as a kid...we had many great coaches in the area and Don was among them.
In recent times Don would make a point of coming to watch my matches in national senior tournaments in Sarasota and was always so very supportive...I always wanted to play well for him. I very much wish to be there for any memorial celebration when it can be planned. Jeff Davis
Don was always enthusiastic and brought a smile to everyone. First met him at Bartlett Park in St. Petersburg 1968 when he called the Notre Dame tennis coach and got me a scholarship. A couple of us also stayed at his house in Louisville that summer for a national 18’s tournament. Also Don and I played the finals of a club tournament and he always always reminded me we had one point that went 287 shots which was a record for him and I’ve never hit more than three in a row over the net before that. Last time he reminded me of that number when I played a Sarasota seniors tournament five years ago and was fortunate that he came by to see his old friends. Will all miss him! Mike Reilly
My husband Frank grew up with Don and George Babcock (Cynthia‘s first husband). Frank was a groomsman in George and Cynthia‘s wedding in 1953 in California and then we attended Don and Cynthia‘s wedding in 1975.
Cynthia and I were good friends and we kept in touch even after they left Louisville. Frank and I visited Don and Cynthia every year after they moved to Sarasota, Florida, renting a condo nearby.
Don and Cynthia were so happy together. He was such a loving husband and stepfather. When Cynthia became sick, he kept her happy and cared for her in a gentle way. He kept the family together after she died.
Every winter, Frank and I looked forward to meeting Don for lunch either on Anna Maria Island or on Longboat Key to catch up on the news about him and the boys. We did this every year until Frank became too ill, eventually dying of cancer in 2017.
Don was a star in tennis and in life ! He played by the rules and was an honest gentleman and an all-around good & nice friend.
Cath Strickler
Don ( coach ) changed my life. At 13 he handed me my first tennis racquet and hit me my first ball. From that to UK tennis team #1 singles and doubles, local, Southern, and National tourneys #1 mixed doubles South, #6 National men's dubs, #1 South men's dubs, #1 singles and dubs Kentucky, and 20 years as South Oldham boys High School tennis coach--- all made possible by that first ball from Don. RIP Don---Woody McGraw
