Donna Gayle Newby Wadsen

Today we say goodbye to our beloved mother, Donna Gayle Newby Wadsen.

All who knew her will remember her deep love of literature, her passion for teaching, and her fierce advocacy for animals.

Born on October 7, 1949, to James and Dorothy Newby, Donna spent a childhood marked by frequent moves, but two constants remained: her love of animals and her love of reading. She delighted in learning about plants and animals with her father and often brought home garter snakes and lizards. When the family settled in Mentone, horses became an important part of her life. Donna spent countless happy hours riding her beloved horse, Torquay—often with a book in hand and an apple to share.

Donna’s love of literature shaped her career path. After graduating from Claremont Graduate School, she became a passionate and gifted high school English teacher. She first taught at Slover Mountain and later at Colton High School. Her students remember “Mrs. Wadsen” as a teacher who held them to high standards, but who also worked tirelessly to help them succeed and to open their eyes to the wonders of literature.

Her dedication extended beyond the classroom. Donna instilled in her daughters, Julia and Clara, a love of books, animals, and adventure. She also longed to travel and fulfilled that dream by leading groups of students through Europe, showing them the richness of the wider world and their place in it. Of all the magical places she visited, Ireland was the place that spoke to her soul. She had a deep love of all things Irish, so much so that she and her daughters lived there for a year.

Though a brave explorer with a keen sense of fun and adventure, Donna was perhaps happiest at home. She loved tending her garden, chatting with her plants, spoiling her beloved dog Gigi, cooking wonderful meals for her family, and sitting in the sun.

We will miss her kindness, her sharp intellect, and her infectious sense of fun. Donna had a gift for pointing out life’s absurdities and laughing at them, a quality that endeared her to all who knew her. She was also a fierce protector of the vulnerable, especially animals, who always found a safe haven in her care. We take comfort in believing she is now surrounded by the many creatures she loved and helped throughout her life.

Donna is survived by her two daughters, Julia Fifer of Nottingham, England, and Clara Wadsen of Redlands, California; and by her two grandsons, Julian and Theodore Fifer of Nottingham, England, who will carry her indomitable spirit forward.

We will forever miss her.