By Meg Peters
Review Co-Editor
All directors at Orion Neighborhood Television [ONTV] are taught the ‘Don way.?
‘You may not know it, but if you watched either the township meetings, village council meetings, or school board meetings over the years, you saw Don’s work. He made these meetings to be polite to everybody involved, he made them watchable,? Executive Director of ONTV Ian Locke said.
Locke was speaking on behalf of Reese at the township board meeting last Tuesday.
‘It’s not easy to stand up here today, but it’s easy to talk about Don.?
Reese, 44, passed away from a long term illness Friday, September 4, four days before he was to receive special honors from Orion Township as recognition for his years of dedication to ONTV’s community programs and the township.
Reese began working for ONTV as a volunteer in 2002 after graduating from Spec Howards School of Broadcast Arts, but was quickly recognized for his excellence.?
He introduced close-up shots to the government and school board meetings, something that all directors are taught to continue his legacy.
‘Many good memories of his enthusiasm when we worked together as volunteer producers, I always looked forward to our conversations of what our visions were for the next production each of us were working on. He’ll never be forgotten,? John Taylor wrote on the ONTV Facebook page.
Locke also spoke of Reese’s positive, up-beat personality, with a ‘flare for the funny side.?
‘Don would rather make you happy than receive attention for his work,? he said. ‘So when we said, ‘hey guess what, you earned this, this honor is coming to you,? his response, in typical Don fashion was, ‘man, you’re going to bust me up.? That gave a chuckle to everybody. It was good to see him in good spirits.?
Reese was diagnosed with cancer, and treatments for the disease damaged his kidneys to the point where he underwent dialysis several times a week. Eventually Reese lost both of his legs, but was able to use prosthetic limbs to get around. Although he lived in Lake Orion for the majority of the time he worked for ONTV, he moved to Shelby Township the last couple of years to be closer to Troy Beaumont Hospital and his weekly treatments. Within the last couple of weeks, Reese decided to stop using dialysis because the pain was overbearing.
‘He really had a positive outlook whenever you saw or talked to him. He taught me a lot,? ONTV Administrative Assistant Tracy Marsh said.
Reese always left a positive impression on those he met, Locke agreed, including the last moments of his life where he made one more impression on his friends and family at Beaumont.
To celebrate his life in one last hoorah, Reese coordinated a fireworks show outside the hospital for his family and friends.
‘Even as Don’s end was near, he was thinking of others. He said ‘thank you my family and friends, I love you all.? It was very touching to see,? Locke said. ‘I know Don’s family is watching tonight from this telecast and all of us from ONTV send our thoughts and prayers to them in this time of mourning, but we do celebrate though the difference that Don brought to ONTV and the service he brought to the community.?
In his honor, Orion Township will mount a plaque near the video control room at township hall, where Reese made the magic all happen.?