Comments on: Don Ingraham: 1937 – 2008

By: Joshua S. Sweeney

Joshua S. Sweeney — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 17:37:12 +0000

I’m sorry for what you went through. I’m not your age yet, but the disease is starting to affect me. My great grandmother, up until a couple years ago, ran her own farm. Planted, harvested, all that. In just a couple years time, she barely moves from her couch and can’t remember what she had for dinner the night before. She understands she should be upset about what’s happening to her, but she can’t figure out what exactly it is… it’s an absolutely frightening thing to go through. Despite not being a writer, I think you captured the effects of this disease on even the best of people very well.

By: Sujoy Sarkar

Sujoy Sarkar — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 04:38:53 +0000

I worked with Don for several years with Art Garrrett at the DA’s Video Unit in Oakland, we all had great fun. I will miss him greatly. We all went to the first screening of Star Wars together at the Coronet in San Francisco and loved every minute.

By: Chuck Herbert

Chuck Herbert — Tue, 05 May 2009 21:15:28 +0000

I worked with Don in the DA’s office for more than 20 years. He moved into my office on the 9th floor when I was put in charge of the drug unit. I don’t think it was 30 minutes later that there were more books in that office than you could find in a library. Don was a remarkable human being and very creative. He was truly one of a kind.

By: Phil Coleman

Phil Coleman — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 20:36:37 +0000

Lawrence:

Only today did I learn of Don’s passing. Belated condolences.

What a proud son you must be, and deservedly so. I served with OPD from 1964-89, so my career roughly paralleled your dad’s. I had the distinct pleasure of meeting him many times in individual and group settings. And, like everybody else, he taught me more case and statutory law than anybody else in or out of law enforcement.

Never before have I met anybody who had such a dry sense of humor and razor sharp timing when he used it. It takes a lot to make case law entertaining. Don did so routinely.

Over the years, I must have called Don 20-30 times to get counsel on some statute or legal technicality. My recollection from these many pleas for help? First, Don was always available. He usually answered the phone himself on the first ring. If he was not in the office, he called back right away.

Second, there was NEVER a question that he did not answer authoritatively and immediately, with no need for research or “I get back to you.” He would even give the case citations in the course of the response. How could he do that? We did not need computers back then, we had Don.

A great human being with a brilliant mind and incredible sense of humor, Don’s contribution to justice in Alameda County can never be fully measured.

Phil Coleman

By: Jim Barbour, Ret Captain DA's Ofc

Jim Barbour, Ret Captain DA's Ofc — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:44:16 +0000

Lawrence, I was deeply saddened to hear of your fathers passing. He will be in my prayers. Your Dad was a great guy! As I write this message I am looking at my Retirement poster drawn by Don. I and numerous others treasure his memory via our drawings created by your father. My thoughts are with you and your family. Jim Barbour, Ret Capt DA’s Ofc

By: Jim Coleman

Jim Coleman — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:26:17 +0000

Dear Ingraham Family,
A true loss, not only to you, but to the law enforcement family as well.
I met Don while I was at OPD and saw all those qualities you conveyed and just enjoyed being around him.
I have walked, played ball,ran the bases, walked into the corn rows looking for “Shoeless Joe Jackson” and the others at the “Field of Dreams” (just an hr outside of Des Moines, IA, and still available for stays, weddings,etc.) and found peace there too….Anytime you want to go, contact me and we’ll enjoy, pray,relax and search LF or just from the bleachers, for TWO icons..
My best, (I’ll wear my Billy Bob teeth so he’ll see us)
Jim Coleman
OPD (Ret.)
Mazatlan, Mexico
mztgringo@yahoo.com

By: Arlene

Arlene — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 06:45:23 +0000

I knew your father 30+ years ago. Your father was terrific and I too loved his sense of humor. As I read these posts I see how he profoundly touched so many people. Well, his legacy continues even further. You may remember a friend of his, Darryl Ferreira. When I was a teenager, Darryl was the director of a teen acting troupe that I performed in and Don contributed many wonderful adaptatios of children’s plays for our group to perform. His witty versions of well-known fairy tales entertained hundreds of youngsters. But his theatrical works didn’t stop there. I kept all those plays that I performed in many years ago, and now as a theatre teacher, I make sure his satirical plays are a part of my classroom curriculum every year and the students just LOVE them.

By: On the design of Alameda’s flag « Alameda Musings

On the design of Alameda’s flag « Alameda Musings — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 05:10:04 +0000

[...] received an email from Lawrence. His dad, Don Ingraham, designed Alameda’s flag in 1984. Lawrence also pointed me to an article (on the design of [...]

By: Andrea Lawson

Andrea Lawson — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 05:42:02 +0000

I’m sure you don’t remember me, but I took dance classes from your Mom when you were little, and your folks both let me stay in the carriage house behind your place when I was broke and in college.

I happened on your site out of the blue today, and was deeply saddened to hear of your father’s recent passing. The pictures you posted of your Dad and his work brought back so many happy memories. Both your parents were such a source of joy in everyone’s lives the years we knew them, and your father will be deeply missed by so many.

My family’s thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time.

By: Buzz DaVega

Buzz DaVega — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 21:14:30 +0000

It was a pleasure to work with Don for over twenty years. He was a delightful man with a wide range of knowledge and interests…a true scholar. Among my memories of him was his office on the 9th floor of the Court House with the groaning and overloaded bookshelves, stacks on the floor and randon piles that held what was an eclectic collection of books and documents that reflected his many interests. His work in the office is well known and he lives forever in the Point of View tapes that were part of the Monday evening staff meetings. The picture of him topping his hat as if to say a jaunty good-bye to us all brings tears to my eyes. Your father was an extraordinary man and a joy to know. He will be missed and remembered by all who knew him.