An Unassuming Hero
When Don Juliar was ten years old his family got a dog, and he developed a deep love for animals. Every since, he has been doing the little things that make a big impact for animals. Now nearly 100 years old, Don still hasn’t lost his affection for all the creatures we share our planet with – especially dogs.
I met Don many years ago when I worked at a humane society. Don had been volunteering for years, quietly doing the things that don’t get much attention or thanks but are vital to making a shelter run smoothly.
He rounded up heavy stacks of newspapers and hauled them into the building, ensuring there was always paper available to line the puppy kennels and keep their cages clean.
Don quietly assembled fundraising mailings on Wednesdays, a task which contributed to millions of dollars being raised over the years to help animals.
Every week, Don cut up hot dogs into bite-sized treats. It might not sound important, but this tedious task likely saved thousands of dogs’ lives. The treats were used by the volunteers who worked with the dogs who were too shy or fearful to be adoptable. Ordinary treats weren’t enough to coax these dogs out of their kennels or help them trust humans, but Don’s frankfurters were. Our dog Vida participated in the fearful dog program; Don helped save her life.
Don even dressed up as Santa Claus for years when the shelter hosted their annual pet photography holiday fundraiser. Don did it all.
Don and our dog Harvey were excited to meet each other for the first time.
Don and I became fast friends and I always looked forward to seeing him on Wednesday mornings. Our multi-decade age difference didn’t matter; we always had lots to talk about. When I left my role for a new job, I knew some work friendships would fade away, but there was no question that Don and I would stay in touch.
Don is an extremely humble man. I knew he’d served in World War II (he jokes about his “government sponsored, all-expenses-paid world cruise”), but I’d known him for a decade before he shyly admitted to being a Purple Heart recipient, along with several other military awards. After being shot during the war, Don and his battalion were surrounded by their enemies for a week before he could be evacuated. Though he must have been in severe pain, Don made the most of the moment, enjoying the flight to the hospital after he was rescued. He had always been fascinated with airplanes, and later in life earned his pilot’s license.
Don holds a master’s degree and spent his career as a social worker. Much of his work focused on helping kids in the foster care system, and he made an extraordinary impact on many kids’ lives.
Don is incredibly kind, and has a wisdom that is only learned by living nearly a century of life compassionately. Every time I see Don, our conversation will invariably include the topic of dogs. “She [or he] is a great dog,” Don will always say in his deep voice, with an emphasis on the word great. And then we both laugh, because Don says that about every dog and we both know that he’s always right. There’s no such thing as a dog who isn’t great.
In a few weeks, Don will turn 100 years old, another extraordinary accomplishment by this quiet, unassuming man.
I’m fortunate to have such a wonderful person to look up to, and lucky to have Don for a friend.
*Special thanks to Don’s daughter Mary Jo Genin and grandson Christopher Genin for their help with this blog. Chris is writing a book about Don’s remarkable life and experience serving in the war. I can’t wait to read it.