Donald Hongisto when he became president of Feather River College. Credit: Arthur Odell, Charles G. Hacker Photography
On the morning of Oct. 29, Donald Ray Hongisto passed away at the age of 93 in Albany.
He was born in the small, rural town of Bovey, Minnesota, on Sept. 3, 1932, and was the son of high school sweethearts Raymond and Gladys (Longrie) Hongisto.
Don moved to San Francisco in 1942 with his parents and younger brother Richard (Dick). He often joked that leaving the frigid cold of northern Minnesota and moving to beautiful San Francisco was one of the best things his parents ever did. Don was an academic student, skipping half a grade after moving to San Francisco. In 1950, he graduated from Polytechnic High School, where he was a yell leader and an editor of the high school newspaper and yearbook. This undoubtedly explained much about his outgoing personality and his early love of the English language.
Don Hongisto in high school. Courtesy of his family
After high school, he worked for the San Francisco Chronicle in the advertising department, where he helped answer advice letters sent to Abigail “Dear Abby” Van Buren. He served nearly four years in the Air Force before earning a BA at San Francisco State, where he met his future wife, Norma Cole. Norma was completing her teaching credential when they met in an English class. They married on Valentine’s Day, 1959, in Reno, Nevada. Don and Norma moved to Berkeley in 1963, where they raised their three children, Sonja, Eric, and Kirsten, and lived for much of the remainder of their lives.
Don earned his MA in English at UC Berkeley and immediately started work on a Ph.D. in Eighteenth Century Literature. He soon realized that he had little interest in the doctorate research. Instead, Don felt passionately about teaching in a college classroom. So, soon after graduation, he joined the English teaching staff at Merritt College in Oakland. One of the highlights of his career was his 1972 teaching sabbatical in London, when he spent his days attending plays, visiting museums and reading/studying English literature.
After returning from England, Don managed the congressional campaign of his long-time friend and colleague Curt Aller. He also helped his brother Dick with his political campaigns for San Francisco Sheriff. While Don had no interest in becoming a politician, he pursued public service as a college teacher and administrator. Don was successful by being straight up, transparent and someone who kept his word. Not only was he admired for his interpersonal skills, but also for his dedication to expanding educational opportunities for students from all communities. He was humble yet rightly very proud of his accomplishments. First, he served as the Division Chairperson for the Fine and Applied Arts Division and as Faculty Senate President at College of Alameda, and later as the president of three Peralta colleges: Feather River College (1980-1981), followed by College of Alameda (1982-1988), and then Merritt College (1988-1993).
He retired from the Merritt College presidency in 1993, 31 years after he started his career teaching there. Don then returned to doing what he loved — teaching in the classroom and helping students facing discrimination, socio-economic and other challenges. He always enjoyed talking to former students, especially when he learned how he helped shape their paths to success.
Don and Norma Hongisto in 2018. Credit: Sonja Hongisto
In retirement, Don and Norma traveled throughout the world. While they loved exploring new places, they especially enjoyed visiting Spain, as it was home to their son, Eric, and their grandchildren, Claudia and Mark. They also cherished spending time with their daughter Kirsten, when her career took her to Bangkok, Thailand and Washington, DC. At home, Don and Norma were fixtures in the lives of their daughter Sonja, son-in-law, Brent, and their grandchildren, Kelsey, Evan, and Kate, especially when one of their grandchildren had a musical or theatrical performance!
Don, Sonja, Eric and Kirsten Hongisto in Europe in 1972. Credit: Norma Hongisto
Don and Norma truly enjoyed calling Berkeley home and could often be spotted exercising at the Berkeley YCMA and taking in Berkeley Rep and Cal Performances. They also frequented iconic Berkeley establishments such as Acme Bread, Peet’s Coffee, Cheeseboard, Monterey Market, and Berkeley Bowl.
Don had a wonderful and unique sense of humor, which his friends, family, and caregivers thoroughly enjoyed. He lived a full life and will be missed.
He is survived by his children Sonja (Brent), Eric, and Kirsten and grandchildren, Kelsey, Evan, Kate, Claudia and Mark. Don was predeceased by his wife Norma and his brother Dick. A celebration of Don’s life will be held on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, at 4 p.m. at the Student Lounge (Building R) of Merritt College, 12500 Campus Drive in Oakland. Friends and former students and staff are encouraged to attend and share their stories. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the “Donald Hongisto Leadership Scholarship,” at the Peralta Colleges Foundation.
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