Donald L. Bailey Ph.D.

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. It is interesting that so many of the Sweet Home people end up in the Rochester area. I did not even know we were neighbors.

Rusty Smith graduated 1961...my Mother, Hallie, taught at Sweet Home until she retired.

My deepest sympathy to you and your family.




SHC Class of 1960

Don, May God Bless and Keep You - old South Park & Buff State Buddie - Jim Zatlukal

Florence, Donna Marie and Eric: Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

It is with great sadness that I am writing this. As one of the original Project Challenge teachers in the Penfield Central School District, I was so very privileged to have been able to work for and with Don. His sensitivity, sense of humor, true devotion to doing what was best for students and doing everything that he could to support the teachers and the program was exceptional. Don will always be remembered by those with whom he worked. He will be sorely missed by all whom have known...

Bonnie called my sister and told her her brother had died we were very sorry to hear that. As second cousins who live where the Bailey family was from orginally we didn't get to know him but consider him family. When the Bailey family reunion was this past summer I noticed I hadn't heard from him which he always responded. All the Bailey thoughts and prayers are with his wife, daughter and all his family. We will miss another Bailey in the clan.

Don was a gentle man and a gentleman. He was always a pleasure to work with. Having known him his full 20 years in Penfield, I am saddened by his passing. My favorite memories are of working on the committee setting up Penfield's (now extinct) Teacher Center and the discussions we had over several days one summer. No ideas were ever discounted by Don and consensus was our goal.

I've only know Don for a short time, but I could tell that he was a kind, gentle soul, who enjoyed a healthy sense of humor. I could tell he was devoted to his wife and family and proud of his work in the Penfield School District. My prayers go out to Florence and her family at this difficult time.

Gifted education in Penfield would not have existed without Dr. Bailey's warm support. I just mentioned him last week as one of the people in Penfield who was most responsible for instituting the program. All the children who continue to benefit from the enrichment programs owe him a debt of gratitude. I know as a newly hired teacher in the program I felt his enthusiasm and appreciation.