In Memory: Don Roberson

By Stephani Martinell Eaton

Don Roberson (April 11, 1945-September 22, 2024) , beloved Reynolda volunteer and enthusiast, died September 22 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

After completing the docent preparation course in 2018, Don seemed a permanent fixture in the Historic House. He jokingly called it his bungalow. And we felt it was. He was here three days a week or more. While active, he served more hours than any other volunteer. He knew the Reynolda story inside and out. Many volunteers would seek him out to answer questions or to learn the art he perfected in welcoming guests to Reynolda and guiding them through the museum.

Don connected with our guests in such a way that people asked for him when they returned. Don loved Reynolda, but he really loved people.

Phil Archer, deputy director, said, “Many visitors commented on the warm welcome they received from Don, particularly during the pandemic. He greeted every visitor as if she or he had overcome great obstacles to reach this place of respite, and in many cases they had. Reynolda was designed for comfort, but without the personal touch no house, or museum, or house-museum can feel truly hospitable. Don’s generous and attentive nature brought out the potential for a genuine sense of invitation for countless arrivals.” 

Don could be found most frequently waiting to welcome guests in R.J. Reynolds’s study, but he also served as secretary and on the executive committee of the Reynolda Volunteer Council. While Reynolda volunteers miss our friend and colleague, his legacy of warmth, curiosity, and care live on.