Don F. Whiting

Whiting, Don F.
68, who had over 40+ years experience as an operations executive with wide-ranging accomplishments in the US and Internationally died Aug 14, 2009 at his home in Scottsdale, Arizona after a brief but courageous battle with cancer. In 1967, after successful engineering and management positions at both General Motors and Boeing, Mr. Whiting joined Fabri-Tek, an early manufacturer of core memories and minicomputers, where he served for nearly a decade in the U.S. and as the Managing Director of Far East Operations with assignments in Hong Kong, Indonesia and Korea. In 1976, Whiting began a 20 year career at Cray Research, Inc. of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin and a lifelong relationship with Seymour R. Cray the firm's founder and the father of the supercomputer. Mr. Whiting, initially appointed as Director of Manufacturing, and then Vice-President of Manufacturing, followed by Vice-President of Operations and Vice-President of Customer Service, oversaw Cray's explosive growth and its dominance of the supercomputing industry. In 1991 he was appointed as the Vice President of Cray Europe, where he integrated the operation of Cray's European organizations as well as supporting customers in the Middle East and India. After retiring as Executive Vice President of Cray in 1995, Mr. Whiting became the Chief Executive Officer of Hunt Technologies in Pequot Lakes, Minnesota from 1996-1997 and then continued to serve on numerous boards and consulted to various organizations. Starting at the age of eight when he began caddying to earn money for his first set of clubs, Mr. Whiting became an exceptional amateur golfer, playing on the Iowa State University team and winning Senior Bestball team events as well. A member of both the Eau Claire Country Club and Ancala Country Club in Scottsdale, AZ, Mr. Whiting created an annual golf tournament whose proceeds created and sustained the Chippewa Area United Way Endowment Corporation of which he served as president. Mr. Whiting also served the Chippewa Valley community as the president of the Chippewa Falls Chamber of Commerce and a key member of both the Rotary Club and the Industrial Development Corporation. He was also on the board of directors of many organizations including the First National Bank/ M&I Bank, UW Eau Claire Foundation, Huebsch Inc, and St. Joseph's Hospital. As a member of the Congregational Church of the Valley Scottsdale, Don used his faith to prepare himself for his journey home, for he believed "For the Christian, heaven is spelled H-O-M-E" and that is where he now smiles down on us. Survivors include Donna Whiting his loving wife of 26 years, mother Helen Whiting of Golden Valley, Minnesota, son Jeff Whiting of Owensboro, Kentucky, daughter Cindy Wilberding of Leesburg, VA, stepdaughter Stacey Klotz of Lakeville, Minnesota, stepson Kurt Schneider of Cadott, Wisconsin, and ten grandchildren. Memorial services will be held on Wednesday, August 19th at 2pm at Congregational Church of the Valley in Scottsdale located at 12001 E. Shea Blvd. In lieu of flowers, the family would like you to send memorial donations in Don Whiting's honor payable to: Mayo Clinic Foundation, with memo line that designates: "Cancer Research" donations should be sent c/o Teri Hauser @ Mayo Clinic Arizona, 13400 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale Arizona 85259.