Don Doucette, Neighbor

Don was born in Attleboro, Massachusetts, in 1943. His first memories centered on the mill village of Dodgeville, a section of Attleboro. One of seven siblings at the time, the family lived in a rented apartment in the “big block” next to Dugas Market. Don’s dad was a laborer in Attleboro jewelry factories while his mom kept the large family intact at home. It was truly a hand-to-mouth family situation.

 The family moved (walked) to Thurber Avenue before Don was of grammar school age. Don’s grandparents owned the ninety acre former Thurber Farm where Don’s eighth sibling was born, a sister with Down Syndrome.

 Don’s few years on the farm proved a rich and rewarding experience with awakening curiosities for varied subjects that were implanted and made manifest for a lifetime. The farm was a favorite place never to be forgotten – one might call life there a form of early home schooling.

 Don attended Finberg School in Hebronville to partly through the fourth grade and when the family moved to Franklin Street near the center of Attleboro, he attended Willett School to the seventh grade.

 His Willett School fifth grade teacher (Miss Spaulding) introduced the world of reading possibilities to Don with the realization that reading through personal motivation would become a fulfilling lifetime joy.

 Don graduated from Attleboro High School in 1961 and entered the workplace, married, co-raised two children and during his later working days, attended Bristol Community College evenings as an adult part time student for nine years and graduated with highest honors in 1996. His elderly mother was able to attend his graduation along with an older brother who had been away from Attleboro many years with the U.S. Air Force. Don admires his extended family, friends and community.

 Beyond his love for reading,  Don remains curious about many subjects, loves things of culture, history, geography and the natural world. Craves current events, is an avid weekend and daytrip junky to places centered in New England, has visited with wife Nancy, every incorporated municipality in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Don is presently Agent-Ambassador at Large for the Massachusetts – U.S. Route 6 Tourist Association. He is a member of the board of Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse, a lighthouse presently being restored in East Providence, Rhode Island and also a board member with the Americam Lighthouse Foundation based in Rockland, Maine.

 Don also maintains a curiosity for New England’s pre-history – has experienced local hands-on archaeological field work, been involved with watershed and land preservation activities, dabbles with photography, and squabbles with computers as he hand-pecked this writing.

 It is Don’s great expectation that you enjoy his Attleboro observations and adventures.