Donna Adelman passed away on June 30, 2022 at Stanford Hospital, in Palo Alto California, surrounded by her loving sister, Linda Adelman Gintel, and close friends. Donna was age 76. Donna’s passing was sudden, as she had always been in good health. She passed away after a 5-week period due to complications from gastrointestinal cancer.
Donna graduated from college at UT Austin and obtained her Masters Degree from California State University at San Francisco. For her professional career, Donna worked as a Research Coordinator for Dr. Irene Wapnir, a celebrated breast oncologist surgeon at Stanford Hospital.
Donna lived for 30 years in a cabin in the woods in a town called La Honda, California. Her cabin, up a road with hairpin turns, was about one hour away from Stanford Hospital and Palo Alto. Donna loved the outdoors and was a lifelong hiker whom few could keep up with. Her happy place was hiking the hills of California or the beach at Half Moon Bay with her beloved dog, Rascal, who was appropriately named. (La Honda is the location of “Alice’s Restaurant” and where Jack Kerouac hung out.)
A memorial service in La Honda has been planned for July 17, 2022. Arrangements for a memorial service or get-together in San Antonio may be made in the future, although at present no arrangements have been made.
If anyone desires to make a gift in Donna’s name, she loved animals and nature and would have loved to have gifts made in her memory to “Best Friends Save Them All,” bestfriends.org., which has locations in California and Texas, and the “World Wildlife Fund.,” worldwild.org. Linda said that for Linda’s 70th birthday, Donna took Linda to Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe, Africa to see the animals. Some of her recent, beloved dogs and cats were: Dundee, Ben, Rascal, and Kitty.
An obituary is expected to be available soon.
The only surviving member of her family of origin, Linda, is mourning the loss of her treasured sister, Donna.
We join Linda in expressing our sadness over the too-soon loss of Donna Adelman but we call to mind all of the freshness, joy, and exuberance that Donna brought to life.
Donna was definitely a lover of nature and I'm sure her cabin in the woods was perfect for her and Rascal.
We didn't see enough of her after college because she headed off to the mountains to Ski! With each passing of Fri ends we appreciate them and our friendship.
I've known Donna since she joined our Saint Mary's Hall 3rd grade class of roughly 30 girls. My memories of her are of her athletic ability and her sense of humor. She was dearly loved at home and at school, as I observed at both places. Much, much later, I learned that we had admired each other for characteristics which each of us believed lacking in ourselves. It's very hard to wrap my mind around the idea that she has died. She has crossed my mind so often as a dynamical de happy woman in the wild of California with people, horses and dogs as playmates. And my heart goes out to Linda.
I didn't know Donna as well as I know her sister Linda, with whom I have talked at length. Linda has told me some wonderful stories about Donna and her life in California, stories that actually made us laugh in spite of the sad occasion. Donna died too fast and too young (in my estimation!) and left Linda with a huge hole in her heart. That is to whom I send my sincerest condolences.
The Adelmans were lifelong friends of my family. Besides being a great friend, Jack was our family's primary care doc until he retired (and for me until I moved away from San Antonio). An altogether amazing family in so many great ways! I was shocked and saddened to hear about Donna's passing, My heartfelt condolences go out to Linda. Cherish all your peeps, everyday is a gift!
Louise and Jack Adelman were a wonderful and entertaining part of San Antonio society and I miss them. Donna went west and Linda went east, but they always gravitated home to their parents and to us, their friends. Now Louise, Jack and Donna are all gone, and we send our heartfelt condolences to Linda, who will need them.
Weezie Mims (Chesney)
a beautiful lady.....who added sunshine to our class.....RIP....weezie
Bill Thomas
Donna Adelman passed away on June 30, 2022 at Stanford Hospital, in Palo Alto California, surrounded by her loving sister, Linda Adelman Gintel, and close friends. Donna was age 76. Donna’s passing was sudden, as she had always been in good health. She passed away after a 5-week period due to complications from gastrointestinal cancer.
Donna graduated from college at UT Austin and obtained her Masters Degree from California State University at San Francisco. For her professional career, Donna worked as a Research Coordinator for Dr. Irene Wapnir, a celebrated breast oncologist surgeon at Stanford Hospital.
Donna lived for 30 years in a cabin in the woods in a town called La Honda, California. Her cabin, up a road with hairpin turns, was about one hour away from Stanford Hospital and Palo Alto. Donna loved the outdoors and was a lifelong hiker whom few could keep up with. Her happy place was hiking the hills of California or the beach at Half Moon Bay with her beloved dog, Rascal, who was appropriately named. (La Honda is the location of “Alice’s Restaurant” and where Jack Kerouac hung out.)
A memorial service in La Honda has been planned for July 17, 2022. Arrangements for a memorial service or get-together in San Antonio may be made in the future, although at present no arrangements have been made.
If anyone desires to make a gift in Donna’s name, she loved animals and nature and would have loved to have gifts made in her memory to “Best Friends Save Them All,” bestfriends.org., which has locations in California and Texas, and the “World Wildlife Fund.,” worldwild.org. Linda said that for Linda’s 70th birthday, Donna took Linda to Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe, Africa to see the animals. Some of her recent, beloved dogs and cats were: Dundee, Ben, Rascal, and Kitty.
An obituary is expected to be available soon.
The only surviving member of her family of origin, Linda, is mourning the loss of her treasured sister, Donna.
We join Linda in expressing our sadness over the too-soon loss of Donna Adelman but we call to mind all of the freshness, joy, and exuberance that Donna brought to life.
Composed and submitted by Nancy Norman.
Helen Russi Menger (Crain)
My life long friend. Amiga, que descanse en paz.
Carol Conway (McGuire)
Donna was definitely a lover of nature and I'm sure her cabin in the woods was perfect for her and Rascal.
We didn't see enough of her after college because she headed off to the mountains to Ski! With each passing of Fri ends we appreciate them and our friendship.
Dottie Jacobson (Miller)
I've known Donna since she joined our Saint Mary's Hall 3rd grade class of roughly 30 girls. My memories of her are of her athletic ability and her sense of humor. She was dearly loved at home and at school, as I observed at both places. Much, much later, I learned that we had admired each other for characteristics which each of us believed lacking in ourselves. It's very hard to wrap my mind around the idea that she has died. She has crossed my mind so often as a dynamical de happy woman in the wild of California with people, horses and dogs as playmates. And my heart goes out to Linda.
John (Johnny) Odell
Thank you to Nancy and Bill for this eloquent remembrance. May she Rest In Peace and let's all hug those we love.
Josephine Bain (Fauerso)
Donna was a lighthouse who quietly enriched every environment she was in. I remember her so fondly and send Linda deepest sympathy. Love from Josie
Bill Thomas
From Taddy McAllister:
I didn't know Donna as well as I know her sister Linda, with whom I have talked at length. Linda has told me some wonderful stories about Donna and her life in California, stories that actually made us laugh in spite of the sad occasion. Donna died too fast and too young (in my estimation!) and left Linda with a huge hole in her heart. That is to whom I send my sincerest condolences.
Ninai "Carol" Koplan
The Adelmans were lifelong friends of my family. Besides being a great friend, Jack was our family's primary care doc until he retired (and for me until I moved away from San Antonio). An altogether amazing family in so many great ways! I was shocked and saddened to hear about Donna's passing, My heartfelt condolences go out to Linda. Cherish all your peeps, everyday is a gift!
Taddy McAllister
Louise and Jack Adelman were a wonderful and entertaining part of San Antonio society and I miss them. Donna went west and Linda went east, but they always gravitated home to their parents and to us, their friends. Now Louise, Jack and Donna are all gone, and we send our heartfelt condolences to Linda, who will need them.