Don Cockrell
Don Cockrell, equipment/tool room coordinator, passed away on April 24. His official title does little to explain his role at the college.
He began at the college in 1984, meeting his wife while both worked here. He drove the bus for the athletics teams and SACS visitors and was a student at the college. Everyone talked about Don, talked about what a good guy he was. A strong sense of humor, a willingness to help and a genuine interest in the welfare of others were just some of the traits mentioned in several of the shared remembrances.
“I had the opportunity to work with Don for six years here at Brookhaven,” said Jason Hopkins, women’s volleyball coach. “This man was the most genuine, caring individual I have met in my years at the school. His sole purpose as he used to say was ‘to take care of our students first, because none of us would be here without them.’” Don traveled with the team to Minnesota for the championship tournament in 2005 and 2006. Jason’s experience seems to have mirrored that of all who met Don in that Jason had stories to share full of humor and warmth.
“This is a funny story I would like to share. In 2006, Don was driving us to a restaurant after the girls and I had finished working a clinic the day before nationals started. We were supposed to be following a “red” car that was leading us to our destination since we didn’t really know where we were going. So Don was following and all the sudden another “red” car got in the mix and we got confused about which one to follow. It turned out we exited following the wrong “red” car and totally got lost in the “big” city of Rochester, Minn. It was hysterical … Don kept his cool, although I think I may have heard him mumbling something under his breath.”
There are likely many other stories to share about this “good guy” who spent 25 years at Brookhaven College, and those who knew him will share and treasure their best memories.
