Donald Clark Hichens

Donald Clark Hichens 61, a longtime Belvedere resident, died March 25 after a long battle with cancer. His family and friends were at his side. Don was born in Massachusetts and grew up in the suburbs of Boston. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Maine in Orono and a master's in business administration from the University of Colorado in Boulder. He continued his education in California, taking courses in the Advanced Management Program at Stanford University. Don met his wife, Julia Baker Hichens, through her mother, his next door neighbor in Marblehead, MA. Don and Julia married in 1979 and moved to Belvedere in 1981 and have lived in the area every since. Don used his education to launch a long and successful career in business, beginning with International Materials Corporation in Burlington, MA. After moving to California, Don held various executive positions with the accounting firms of PriceWaterhouseCoopers and Arthur D. Little and then with Crown Zellerbach Corporation, Liberty Venture Group and Liberty Environmental Partners. His success at other companies led him to launch his own business, Branuity, Inc. of SF which developed and marketed its own management software system. Don was also called upon to share his successful experience as a guest lecturer at Santa Clara University and he served as executive-in-residence at his alma mater, the CU School of Business in Boulder. He worked with St. Mary's College in Moraga as a member of the Venture Capital Investment Committee. As a business advisor, he served on the boards of PanOptx, Portable Energy Products, Fountainhead Technologies, Avalon Imaging, Earth's Best and J.R. Schneider Company. An avid golfer, Don was a member of the Meadow Club in Fairfax where he was a popular fourth for both old and new friends on the course. Don's only hole in one occurred at the end of a long golf day and try as he might, Don couldn't find recipients for the traditional round of celebratory drinks except for his one witness, Don Grey. He also loved to ski, especially with his family: the annual Hichens family ski trip photo made a regular appearance on their holiday card. He read voraciously and especially loved reading and discussing history, politics and current affairs. Don was a member of the Christian Science Church in Belvedere for 26 years where he was an active member. Don and Julia raised their two daughters, Jamie and Annabelle, in Marin where he was active in their school and extra-curricular lives as a coach and mentor. He was a good friend to many and left an indelible mark on the lives of friends, neighbors and business associates. Besides his wife, Don is survived by his daughters, Jamie Hichens of San Francisco and Annabelle of Boston; his mother, Peggy Hichens of Peabody, MA; a sister, Karen (Marc) Newkirk of Chester, MA; a brother, Glenn Hichens (Cathy) of Sharon, MA; and 11 nieces and nephews. A Memorial Service will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, April 4 at St. Stephen Church, 3 Bayview Ave., Belvedere. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be sent to the Guardsmen, 340 Brannan St., San Francisco, CA. or Hospice by the Bay. 17 E. Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Larkspur, CA 94939.