My husband, Don S., has died ....

Don S

Rookie
I had no idea where to post something like this, and I barely know how to use these forums. It took me awhile to even figure out his password to get in here and let you all know this ...
Here goes....

Hi Guys. This is Kelley Lynn, Don Shepherd's wife. He was DonS on here, and I am pretty sure that a lot of you know him well. He posted here a LOT, and loved coming on here at the end of his EMT work shifts to chat, laugh, and hang out and talk about all things tennis. He hung out here and on a music site forum all the time. Those were his two passions, tennis and guitars. He loved this website, and these forums, and so I had to come on here and tell you all what happened. Im sorry it took me this long, but I had to locate his password and info to get on here correctly.

I guess Ill just go ahead and say it. This is so f**king hard.

My husband Don died on Wed July 13th, early in the morning. He was at his part time job at a Petsmart where he stocked shelves ...he had picked up the job so that we could save up money for a new car since ours was very old. They found him collapsed on the floor of the store, ambulance came, CPR, everything. They couldnt save him. He had a massive heart attack at only 46 yrs old. Its been two weeks and Im still in complete shock and despair. I cant stop crying writing this. He was the love of my life. We are still waiting for autopsy results ... I have no idea why this happened. He seemed very healthy. He loved to play tennis, ride his bike, and especailly play his guitars. He would play for hours, and Im a singer, and we would sing and play in our little apt together, just having fun for hours. I still cant wrap my head around the fact that hes gone. I miss him so so so much every single second. I just HAD to come on here and let you all know. His name was Don Shepherd. He was an EMS. He was also an Air Force Vet, huge animal lover, and the best person I have ever known. Now its just me and our two kitties, and I dont know what to do next, or how to live without him. He would probably tell me to stop being so overdramatic, but this is hell. Im only 39. He was so young. We didnt even get 5 yrs of marriage. Its so unfair.

Thanks for making him happy with your back and forth banter in here. Im a comedian, so he and I had a LOT of laughs every single day, and I know he loved coming in here to shoot the sh*t and talk about tennis. When we first met, the very first day, I took him to the US OPEn, Ill never forget how happy he was to go there that day. This is just so so sad and Im so lost right now.Butg I wanted you all to know. If anyone wants or needs to verify that I am who I say I am or anthing like that, feel free to email me at kelleylynn926@yahoo.com

Thanks for the banter and the conversation you all gave him. He had a blast in here talking to you all and joking around and even exchanging tennis rackets with a lot of you. I have about 15 rackets here of his,l and have NOT A CLUE how to sell them or whast the best thing to do with them would be. Maybe you guys can help.

Love Kelley
__________________
 
It's heartbreaking to hear this, can't even imagine how you must feel. So sorry for your loss, obviously Don was a great guy and had a great (if too short) life. Best of luck and hang in there.
 
I didn't know him, but I'm relatively new to this forum. I'm so sorry for your loss... It must be devastating, he was so young. Take care...
 
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Oh my...I can't even begin to imagine. My thoughts are with you.

As for the racquets...keep a few. They're kinda like guitars, they hold a lot of memories. As for the others, there's a lot of good information in the classifieds section where you can sell them.

Take care.
 
Wow, I log on for the first time in awhile and this is the first post I read.

I didn't know your husband, but I send my deepest condolences for your loss. I can't imagine the devastation... he was so young and active for that to happen. I wish you all the strength in the world in dealing with your loss.

Everyone grieves in their own way, but I might recommend grief counseling or joining a grief support group.
 
I'm so sorry for your loss, Kelley... looks like Don was a member here for over a decade (he probably was on old/original TW forum too)... I've seen his posts here and there as well... 46 is too young... just too young. try and keep your head up and stay strong...

edit: you can read all the posts Don made since he joined this site in 2004 http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/member.php?u=270
 
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Kelly, I am so sorry for your loss. I also am a guitar player and am on many guitar forums. Please let me know what guitar forums he frequented. I am on most of them and I will let them know.
 
So sorry for your loss Kelley. Your husband sounds like a really great person. I hope you once again find peace and happiness and it sounds like Don will always be with you in spirit and in your heart. Take care of yourself and give yourself time.
 
I'm so sorry about your loss. Didnt personally know him, but he sounds like a great guy. My deepest condolence. I wish you the best.
 
Guitarplayer - he was DShep on Vanderbilly.com. The guys over there already know. I posted a similar message over there earlier tonight and he posted over there I think a lot more than here, but I know that here he spoke with several people and sold/exchanged rackets with a lot of guys too. I think he was also on Harmony Central, but I dont know his name there or how often he posted. Sorry:(
 
Kelley, I am so sorry for your loss. My deepest condolences to you :(
 
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Well that was just so sad to read. I too am very sorry for your loss. Although I didn't know him, your husband sounds like a terrific person--far better than most. Thank you so much for coming here and letting us know--it had to be very hard to do.
 
Yes, heartfelt condolences on your loss.... and I mean HEART felt. That almost happened to me at nearly the same age. I was lucky though and made it to the hospital and had 2 stents put in to open clogged arteries. I am one of the very fortunate ones. I had quite a few episodes of pain before it was finally figured out. Again, I am so sorry for your loss.
 
RIP Don S. May he find our other absent friend Gaines and carry on the tennis chat.

My condolences and all the best to you and yours.

Orig
 
Very sorry Kelley,

My thoughts are with you in this very tough time.

Joel Osteen always helps lift my spirits. Check him out if you can.:smile:
 
I'm so sorry to hear about your loss.

It sounds like service to and for others defined his life.

I'm sure he will live on in those he inspired by his good work and deeds.

I'm sure he would give up hitting with, or jamming with, the legends up in heaven to be back with you right now.
 
I didnt know him as i havent been here long but im truly sorry for ur loss and i hope that u will be able to get back to a "normal" emotional state as soon as possible.
 
words right now may not bring you comfort
only time heals wounds like this
if there is any comfort in this
my deepest condolences
 
I am so sorry. I lost the love of my life 5 years ago after almost 16 years together.

For me it felt like I lost a part of my body and soul and I've never really been the same. But the love never goes away and the memory will always be bittersweet.

Save something of his (guitar/racquet). At those times when you just want one more minute with him to see, touch, smell, and say "I love you" one more time, it helps having something solid to connect with.

Take one day at a time and be good to yourself. My thoughts are with you.
 
Kelley it's incredibly sad to lose a fellow poster from these forums.

I am so very sorry for your loss and I hope you find the strength to help you through this very tough time.

My thoughts are with you.
 
There was a time when I thought 46 old, now its seems too young to go. Hope you can take comfort in that he participated in a sport where most care deeply about their fellow competitors - sometimes it doesn't appear that way but its true. One's life shouldn't be measured/evaluated by years but rather in their contributions to their family and community.
 
Thank you for sharing. Communication helps in the healing process. Love endures all.
 
I am really sorry to hear this. My deepest condolences for your loss. It is hard to imagine somebody passing that young, that too that fit.
 
I'm so sorry for your loss. That Don took on a second job to get a newer car for his family says a lot about his character and work ethic. That you supported and encouraged his hobbies says a lot about you and your marriage together. As someone else said I wouldn't sell all his racquets or guitars quite yet.
 
Thank you everyone. He played tennis with a guy down the block from us, and I had to call him up and tell him what happened the other day. They used to play tennis together a few times a week, just hit back and forth, have fun, ya know. This guy, his name is Maurice, thought the world of Don and is going to help me sell some of his tennis rackets. I am absolutely holding on to one or two of them, his favorite ones.

As far as the guitars, he had 7 of them. Don made a big connection with my cousin Nicky; who is a guitar player and teachers music to kids in Massachusettts. He runs a program where kids and teens form bands and perform rock music covers ...its pretty awesome. Don loved that program and so Nicky is going to take Dons guitars for me and name the next concert in Dons name; he is going to buy the guitars for me and keep them in his music classroom for the kids to play. This is EXAXCTLY what Don would have wanted; for kids and teens who love music to have a chance to play these great guitars.

I dont play guitar, I sing. But, I am keeping one of the guitars. The one that I bought him for Christmas 2 years ago. I bought it from Nicky actually. Its an Ovation, and Don LOVED it, and it was a gift from me. So Im not giving it to anyone else. Its his. And mine. And ours. And I need to keep it.

This whole thing just really sucks.
 
I wish I know what to say, but I don't. I never talked to him or knew him, but regardless of that fact, it's sad to know that he's departed. Hopefully, wherever he is, he can still continue his pastimes such as tennis and guitar :)
 
Kelley, so sorry for your loss. I know this will be a tough time, and I will be praying for you. I'm a musician as well as a tennis player, I think the two go hand in hand!

On our first trip, my wife surprised me with a trip to the US Open, and it was one of the best weekends of our life. I thought, "if a woman does this for their man...there could be nothing better" My two favorite things in the whole world.

I can't imagine what you are going through, I pray that the Lord will give you peace...
 
I'm so sorry for your loss Kelly. I've read a lot of your husbands posts, and I loved reading them. My deepest condolences go out to you and your family. 46 is just way too early...

-Fuji
 
I'm really sorry for you loss Kelly. I joined the forum only a few months ago and did not know Don but it's all really sad. I hope you and your family could recover soon and get on your feet.
My deepest condolences.
Tmano
 
I dont play guitar, I sing. But, I am keeping one of the guitars. The one that I bought him for Christmas 2 years ago. I bought it from Nicky actually. Its an Ovation, and Don LOVED it, and it was a gift from me. So Im not giving it to anyone else. Its his. And mine. And ours. And I need to keep it.

Ovations are pretty easy to play. Maybe someday when you feel like it you should give it a try...
 
I didn't know your husband. But, I'm very sad to hear of his passing. Be strong, know that he is in a better place and that you will be together again.
 
I had no idea where to post something like this, and I barely know how to use these forums. It took me awhile to even figure out his password to get in here and let you all know this ...
Here goes....

Hi Guys. This is Kelley Lynn, Don Shepherd's wife. He was DonS on here, and I am pretty sure that a lot of you know him well. He posted here a LOT, and loved coming on here at the end of his EMT work shifts to chat, laugh, and hang out and talk about all things tennis. He hung out here and on a music site forum all the time. Those were his two passions, tennis and guitars. He loved this website, and these forums, and so I had to come on here and tell you all what happened. Im sorry it took me this long, but I had to locate his password and info to get on here correctly.

I guess Ill just go ahead and say it. This is so f**king hard.

My husband Don died on Wed July 13th, early in the morning. He was at his part time job at a Petsmart where he stocked shelves ...he had picked up the job so that we could save up money for a new car since ours was very old. They found him collapsed on the floor of the store, ambulance came, CPR, everything. They couldnt save him. He had a massive heart attack at only 46 yrs old. Its been two weeks and Im still in complete shock and despair. I cant stop crying writing this. He was the love of my life. We are still waiting for autopsy results ... I have no idea why this happened. He seemed very healthy. He loved to play tennis, ride his bike, and especailly play his guitars. He would play for hours, and Im a singer, and we would sing and play in our little apt together, just having fun for hours. I still cant wrap my head around the fact that hes gone. I miss him so so so much every single second. I just HAD to come on here and let you all know. His name was Don Shepherd. He was an EMS. He was also an Air Force Vet, huge animal lover, and the best person I have ever known. Now its just me and our two kitties, and I dont know what to do next, or how to live without him. He would probably tell me to stop being so overdramatic, but this is hell. Im only 39. He was so young. We didnt even get 5 yrs of marriage. Its so unfair.

Thanks for making him happy with your back and forth banter in here. Im a comedian, so he and I had a LOT of laughs every single day, and I know he loved coming in here to shoot the sh*t and talk about tennis. When we first met, the very first day, I took him to the US OPEn, Ill never forget how happy he was to go there that day. This is just so so sad and Im so lost right now.Butg I wanted you all to know. If anyone wants or needs to verify that I am who I say I am or anthing like that, feel free to email me at kelleylynn926@yahoo.com


Thanks for the banter and the conversation you all gave him. He had a blast in here talking to you all and joking around and even exchanging tennis rackets with a lot of you. I have about 15 rackets here of his,l and have NOT A CLUE how to sell them or whast the best thing to do with them would be. Maybe you guys can help.

Love Kelley
__________________

Very sorry for your loss. Thank you for letting us know what happened. Anyone who posts here on a regular basis will recognize your husband's user name as he was a regular here. Sometimes regular posters fall off the face of the board and one always wonders what became of them (at least the ones who weren't banned.) ;o)

And yes, 46 is rather young for someone who is seemingly healthy to die but it does happen. One of my best friends died at 32 and he had been super healthy. Puts things in perspective. We take everything in life for granted as if we will last forever. They are not long the days.....

Eventually, the wound will heal but it will take awhile. Allow yourself to grieve the loss as it is all part of the healing process.

Again, thank you for letting us know. Even though, for the most part, these internet "relationships" are largely anonymous, one does get a sense, good or bad, of some of the people here. As I recall, your husband was one of the good guys. As he liked both tennis and guitars, I am confident we would have gotten along famously. ;o)
 
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