Got a little punch in the gut this morning. A Facebook notice popped up reminding me that today is Daonn Alexander's birthday. Some of you may/may not know that Daonn Alexander passed last year. Due to Covid there wasn't a funeral or any formal remembrance. So here are a few words for Daonn. Daonn was a graduate of Highland Park High School class of 1974. From the Highlander 1974: Daonn was ROTC Princess 3; Hi-Lites 3, 4; Biology Club 3, 4. Daonn and I were friends who passed in the halls of HP with a quick hello or a brief smile. I wouldn't see Daonn again until 1980. We ran into each other at the Village Country Club where she was registering The RainTree Apartment's girls softball team. After a couple of seconds she had this surprised look on her face and blurted out would you coach our girls team! I may or may not have mentioned that Steve Jeske, standout baseball player from our HP days, and I were roommates at the time. I said, "sure!" I didn't have the heart to tell her I'd never coached softball before. YMCA Youth Football yes but NO girls softball experience. I asked Steve, he said yes, and we rounded out our coaching staff with Greg Tucker, Greg said he would bring the beer, another classmate from '74. Greg, Steve, and I had played softball, city league flag football, and basketball for years. So I figured between the three of us we could bluff our way through a season of girls softball. Daonn organized everything sign up, reserved the fields for practice, team dues, jerseys, everything. Daonn wasn't the only HP girl on our team. Connie Flowers was on the team as well. Connie played first base and batted cleanup! After three years The RainTree Girls had a season championship and a tournament championship under their belts! Daonn also organized a coed team that she asked me to play on. Our coed team had talent! Preston Pearson, Dallas Cowboys # 26, played the entire outfield - literally the entire outfield! After our softball days Daonn and I remained friends and we would run into each other on occasion. Daonn along with Preston and Gail came up to the hospital the night Jordan was born. It wasn't until 1994 when my dad passed that I learned that Daonn's mom and my dad were HP classmates since the 1930's. Daonn and her mom came to Curtis's funeral and she told me some stories of life in HP during their time as friends. When Daonn's mom passed she reached out to me and I helped with her the eulogy. Daonn told me about her mom's favorite song but she couldn't find anything on it. I was an early adopter of the internet so after poking around I found the song, who had the rights to it, and who to contact. I don't remember the song but it was very popular in the early 1940's and was owned by Penn State. I called the university and spoke to a very understanding student who sent me a photo copy of the sheet music and a audio recording of the song. Daonn played the song at the funeral. We kept in touch over the years I knew she had health issues but was still surprised when a friend of hers reached out to tell me she had passed. Whenever I lean of a classmates passing I dig out my Highlander and just kind of sit and mope for awhile. It's very cathartic for me. Years ago Daonn showed me where I signed her annual, Daonn to a fast girl with a really fast car. (She had a '72 or '73 Mustang fastback). Yes I really am a dork! Today I got my Highlander out and saw where she signed my book. Curtis Chadwick, the Class Clown. Very Nice. I wonder if you are ready for college. Maybe if college is ready for you. Success to you in every attempt. Daonn Alexander
I must also add that Daonn was not just an ROTC Princess - the cadets voted her the Regimental Queen in 1973! Very unsual to elect a Regimental Queen as a junior. She won the vote because she was very personable and associated with all the cadets in our humble JROTC battalion!
Daonn was the first person I met in our class--in early childhood! A friendly soul, she lived next door to us on Luther Lane before we moved to HP. I have fond memories of all of us kids playing on that street during a time when no one was supervised. Rest in peace, dear Daonn. May your memory be a blessing.
Curtis “Chad”wick Downs
June 3, 2021
Got a little punch in the gut this morning. A Facebook notice popped up reminding me that today is Daonn Alexander's birthday. Some of you may/may not know that Daonn Alexander passed last year. Due to Covid there wasn't a funeral or any formal remembrance. So here are a few words for Daonn. Daonn was a graduate of Highland Park High School class of 1974. From the Highlander 1974: Daonn was ROTC Princess 3; Hi-Lites 3, 4; Biology Club 3, 4. Daonn and I were friends who passed in the halls of HP with a quick hello or a brief smile. I wouldn't see Daonn again until 1980. We ran into each other at the Village Country Club where she was registering The RainTree Apartment's girls softball team. After a couple of seconds she had this surprised look on her face and blurted out would you coach our girls team! I may or may not have mentioned that Steve Jeske, standout baseball player from our HP days, and I were roommates at the time. I said, "sure!" I didn't have the heart to tell her I'd never coached softball before. YMCA Youth Football yes but NO girls softball experience. I asked Steve, he said yes, and we rounded out our coaching staff with Greg Tucker, Greg said he would bring the beer, another classmate from '74. Greg, Steve, and I had played softball, city league flag football, and basketball for years. So I figured between the three of us we could bluff our way through a season of girls softball. Daonn organized everything sign up, reserved the fields for practice, team dues, jerseys, everything. Daonn wasn't the only HP girl on our team. Connie Flowers was on the team as well. Connie played first base and batted cleanup! After three years The RainTree Girls had a season championship and a tournament championship under their belts! Daonn also organized a coed team that she asked me to play on. Our coed team had talent! Preston Pearson, Dallas Cowboys # 26, played the entire outfield - literally the entire outfield! After our softball days Daonn and I remained friends and we would run into each other on occasion. Daonn along with Preston and Gail came up to the hospital the night Jordan was born. It wasn't until 1994 when my dad passed that I learned that Daonn's mom and my dad were HP classmates since the 1930's. Daonn and her mom came to Curtis's funeral and she told me some stories of life in HP during their time as friends. When Daonn's mom passed she reached out to me and I helped with her the eulogy. Daonn told me about her mom's favorite song but she couldn't find anything on it. I was an early adopter of the internet so after poking around I found the song, who had the rights to it, and who to contact. I don't remember the song but it was very popular in the early 1940's and was owned by Penn State. I called the university and spoke to a very understanding student who sent me a photo copy of the sheet music and a audio recording of the song. Daonn played the song at the funeral. We kept in touch over the years I knew she had health issues but was still surprised when a friend of hers reached out to tell me she had passed. Whenever I lean of a classmates passing I dig out my Highlander and just kind of sit and mope for awhile. It's very cathartic for me. Years ago Daonn showed me where I signed her annual, Daonn to a fast girl with a really fast car. (She had a '72 or '73 Mustang fastback). Yes I really am a dork! Today I got my Highlander out and saw where she signed my book. Curtis Chadwick, the Class Clown. Very Nice. I wonder if you are ready for college. Maybe if college is ready for you. Success to you in every attempt. Daonn Alexander
Marc Miller
That blue Mustang that Daonn drove wasn't just any Mustang. It was a Boss 429!
Curtis “Chad”wick Downs
Marc, excellent catch! I totally forgot about color and details about the engine.
Marc Miller
I must also add that Daonn was not just an ROTC Princess - the cadets voted her the Regimental Queen in 1973! Very unsual to elect a Regimental Queen as a junior. She won the vote because she was very personable and associated with all the cadets in our humble JROTC battalion!
Holly Hexter
Daonn was the first person I met in our class--in early childhood! A friendly soul, she lived next door to us on Luther Lane before we moved to HP. I have fond memories of all of us kids playing on that street during a time when no one was supervised. Rest in peace, dear Daonn. May your memory be a blessing.
David Eisenlohr
Thank you all for your wonderful tributes to Daonn. She was, indeed, a friendly soul.