Donald Edward Darnauer

Known simply as "Downtown Don" to generations of residents...

Obituary

Don earned the “Downtown Don” nickname as a result of many years of volunteer involvement and leadership in the Downtown Long Beach residential and business communities, including City government. He still wore his “I Love Long Beach” buttons and continued his involvement, to a less energetic degree, until his death, June 8, 2026, at age 94.

Donald was born in Beatrice, NE, the only child of Mable and Ernest Darnauer. His parents managed a series of restaurants in Kansas and Colorado; however, almost all of his youth was spent in the eastern Colorado prairie town of Cheyenne Wells. Don began his active lifestyle in Boy Scouts where he rapidly advanced to the top rank of Eagle Scout. In high school, he excelled in multi-sports of basketball, football, and track. He also participated in American Legion baseball and played in the marching and concert band. Following graduation, he completed Western Trade School courses in refrigeration/air conditioning but faced the military draft due to needs of the Korean War. After checking the choices, he decided upon the dual military/humanitarian missions of the U.S. Coast Guard where he began his thirty-year career. While stationed in New York on New Year's Eve 1951, he met Claire Kern of Brooklyn at Times Square. After a whirlwind teen romance of six weeks, they married. During their seventeen years of marriage, they were blessed with four beautiful children: two girls (Karen and Lynne) and two boys (Darrell and Glenn).

Don loved his Coast Guard career and the variety of his duty assignments. After basic training and then completion of Yeoman school, his first duty station was aboard the Coast Guard Cutter (ship) Bonham, which was classified as a sub-chaser/patrol vessel in the Pacific. Another ship assignment later was aboard the CGC Evergreen in the North Atlantic. It was engaged in International Iceberg Patrol duties in the shipping lanes near Greenland. Subsidized by NATO countries, this successfully warned all ships from iceberg calamities such as caused the sinking of the Titanic. As he progressed up the enlisted ranks to Senior Chief Petty Officer, his duties ranged from a trained court reporter in Boston, recruiting duties in Denver, and embassy liaison officer in Copenhagen, Denmark. As he progressed further up as a top-ranking Chief Warrant Officer, one of his duty stations took him to U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C., as a congressional liaison officer. It was at this time that he met Barbara Sismondo, an apartment neighbor who was employed at the Library of Congress. This blossomed into a two-year romance that continued into a loving marriage in 1977, which extended for another 48 years. Barbi and Don moved to Long Beach in 1978 due to his final Coast Guard transfer to the then Southern California district office, as housing contracting officer.

Following retirement in 1980, after over 30 years of military service, Don attended Long Beach City College and then California State University, Long Beach, earning a certificate in corporate communications. He then worked for several area Chambers of Commerce as well as the Better Business Bureau before he began his second retirement, which included his many years of community service.

It was in 1991 that Don and Barbi moved to the downtown area and decided to channel more energy towards their church and the community. Don’s interest started with the redevelopment movement that was taking place, so he joined (eventually becoming chair of) the Central Project Area Committee of the Redevelopment Agency. He also joined the Downtown Long Beach Associates (DLBA), an association of businesses, and formed a Residential Committee to include that voting representation. Mayor Kell then appointed Don to the Community Development Commission. Later appointments followed to the Armed Services Commission and then to the Senior Citizens Commission. At one point, he was a candidate for election to the First District Council position. Don and Barbi both served as board members and as presidents of the Pine Plaza Homeowners Association. In the meantime, Don and Barbi worked toward the creation of the residential West End Community Association (later the West Gateway Community Association), where he became president. He also became one of the motivating forces that helped start the North Pine Neighborhood Alliance as well as the Ocean Residents Community Association. In 1998, he was selected Honorary Grand Marshal of the Veterans Day Parade. Finally, he helped start the Downtown Residential Council (DRC), being the first Vice Chair, that helps promote and encourage the other downtown residential groups. He was awarded the Downtown Residential Champion recognition by the DRC and the Downtown Spirit Award by the DLBA, now known as the DTLB Alliance. Due to his many years of continuous involvement, both of these organizations have designated Don as a permanent honorary board member.

Don and Barbi continued their spiritual commitments together at Christ Lutheran Church, as well as supporting encouragement to sister congregation, Trinity Lutheran, in Downtown. They sang together in the choir, were lectors, ushers, and greeters, as well as taught Sunday school. Don also served as assisting minister and was on staff for a while, as Barbi served on committees such as feeding the homeless at COA in Downtown.
If you asked Don about his hobbies and pleasures, he’d say his hobbies were volunteering and his pleasures were the friendships of the caring people that also volunteered. He will be missed from the many volunteer lists that make the world a better place.

Don is survived by his loving wife Barbi, his previously named children, his stepson Michael, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, all living across Maryland, Tennessee, Michigan, Texas, and California.

The memorial service is scheduled for June 16, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church, 6500 Stearns St., Long Beach, CA 90815.

In lieu of flowers, Don would prefer donations to the Christ Lutheran preschool.

Impact

Don made a lasting impact throughout the community.

Gallery

Memory wall

Service

In Lieu of Flowers