Donald "Don" Cave

Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, friend, Don Cave died on October 2, 2025, after several years of coping with kidney failure. Nevertheless, he was strong, capable, and successful in all other aspects of his life.
Don was born in Philadelphia on May 14,1939, the first son of Adeline and Edward Cave. He attended public schools in Philly where he was an average student and outstanding athlete. He then attended Susquehanna University where he played varsity football and began to excel academically. Having earned his B.S. there, he chose to continue his education at the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago. There he earned a Ph.D. in anatomy. Two post-doctoral years followed, the first at Lund University in Sweden and the second at Max Planck Institute in Tubingen, Germany.
Returning to the US, he took a position at the University of Pittsburg where he taught and did research for several years. With a desire to leave the East Coast for less crowded parts, he moved his family to Little Rock in the early 70's to take a position at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, where he remained until his retirement. He embraced life in Arkansas, enjoying the natural beauty of the state, its friendly citizens, and his intellectually stimulating colleagues. He loved his adopted state.
Don enjoyed teaching and generally was the first professorial face first-year medical students encountered. Diligent, fair, and thorough, he taught a whole generation of Arkansas doctors. With his colleague and friend Robert Burns, he wrote a textbook to help medical students pass their board exams.
Don also was deeply involved in research. His collaboration with Kathy Eisenach and the late Joe Bates resulted in a rapid diagnostic test for tuberculosis which was patented and used throughout the world. He travelled to medical labs in many countries, consulting and aiding health care workers in treating TB.
For much of his life Don was involved in competitive sports, excelling in running, race walking, and biking. He ran countless 5k's, 10k's, half marathons, and three marathons; he ran the Boston Marathon once and walked it once after he was no longer able to run. His running speed was legendary. No one could believe that gray-haired, bewhiskered guy could run so fast.
He also loved to bike, one of his saddest times being when his most favorite bike, which cost more than his Volkswagen, was stolen.
He and his wife, Donna bicycled in many parts of the US and Europe. Italy was a favorite not only for biking but also for the fantastic food and wine, which he also truly enjoyed. As he grew older, he was a constant walking figure in the Heights, and he and Donna took several walking trips in the UK and other parts of Europe.
He loved the Arts Center and the opera. His group of "opera tailgaters" had great times together at opera HD intermissions, and he and Donna visited many opera houses in the US and Europe. They spent March at the Jersey Shore and August in Colorado. Life was truly a moveable feast.
Don loved his friends and was always eager for a party or adventure, and his friends enjoyed his company even as his health failed. He left a wonderful family who rallied around him, especially in his final days. He was predeceased by his parents and his beloved brother, Lance Cave. He is survived by his wife, Donna Watkins Cave, his former wife, Joan Baltz, his sister-in-law, Meg Cave, his nephew, Scott Cave (Cyndee), his niece Corey Cave Schamberg (Ben), and his children, Dr. Eric Cave (Alyson), Heidi Cave McNamer (David), Ben Brainard (Jamie), and Anne Stefanova (Nick). His grandchildren are Jessica Cave of Asheville, NC, Emily Bunting of Sausalito, CA, Anson Stefanov, John Holden Brainard, and Miriam Brainard, all of Little Rock. His friends are too numerous to mention.
The family thanks the nursing staff at Little Rock Renal Services who took loving care of him for five years, Mark Horn who faithfully drove him to dialysis, the incredible ICU nurses and doctors at UAMS, and Arkansas Hospice, who cared for him in his final days.
Don was a remarkable person, highly accomplished and yet very human. We will not forget him.