U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary - 9th Central District

Details on the memorial services for Don and Cathy may be found on the Notices page.

Donald Black 1927-2008
Don Black photo

Donald Black, age 80 of Maumee, passed away peacefully on Saturday April 26, 2008 at Toledo Hospital. Donald was born in Toledo on August 17, 1927 to Emmett & Amanda (Horst) Black. He married Beverly Cartlidge in Toledo on June 7, 1952 and she preceded him in death on July 14, 2002. A WW II Army Veteran, Donald was a Physical Education Teacher for Devilbiss H.S. retiring in 1982. A 1945 graduate of Libbey H.S., Don was an assistant football coach from 1950-1961, as well as their head golf coach. A member of Flotilla 6 in Division 6 of District 9CR of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, Donald loved fishing and patrolling with the Coast Guard. A devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, and son he will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Don joined the auxiliary at his retirement in 1982. Over his 25 years as a member, he has served as Vice Flotilla Commander, and held Flotilla Staff Officer appointments in Aids to Navigation, Operations, Personnel Services and Public Affairs. Don was a qualified Boat Crew member, Coxswain and Aton Verifier. Since 2002, he volunteered 1,176 hours toward the missions of the Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary. During his tenure, he earned the following awards:

Sustained Auxiliary Service Award with bronze star
Coast Guard Presidential Unit Citation
DOT Secretary's Outstanding Unit Award
Coast Guard Unit Commendation with gold star
Coast Guard Bicentennial Unit Commendation
Auxiliary Operations Service Award

May he have an eternity of fair skies and following winds

Catherine Smith 1947-2008

Catherine L. Smith, age 61, of Temperance, Michigan, died Monday, May 5, 2008, at Hospice of Northwest Ohio, Toledo. She was born March 26, 1947, in Toledo to Mr. and Mrs. Chester (Lucille Sams) Banaszak. She was employed for the past 32 years at Flying Colors Press as a bindery supervisor and was a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteering at Station Toledo, where she served as Officer of the Day for many years.

The sudden decline in health and death of Cathy has left a huge hole in Flotilla 5, Division 6 and District 9CR. Cathy was a member of the Auxiliary for 18 years. She was qualified as an Auxiliary Boat Crew, Assistant Harbor Safety Specialist, AUXOP, Instructor, and Watchstander. Just since 2002, she had volunteered an overwhelming 8,486 hours to the mission and support of the US Coast Guard and USCG Auxiliary. Cathy was also instrumental in working out the kinks in the AUXDATA reporting system. A near constant presence at Station Toledo, Cathy's reliable, quite leadership will be sorely missed.

Cathy's awards:

Auxiliary achievement Award
Auxiliary Meritorious Service Award
Auxiliary Operations Service Award
Award of Operational Merit (B award) with bronze star
CG Auxiliary Group Action Award with bronze star
CG Bicentennial Unit Commendation
CG Unit Commendation with two bronze stars
DOT Secretary's Outstanding Unit Award
Presidential Unit Citation
Special Operations Service Ribbon
Sustained Auxiliary Service Award with hourglass and bronze star
Transportation 9-11 Ribbon

Auxiliary offices held over time:
District Staff officer for: Information/ Communication Services Communications	Division Vice Captain Staff Officer for: Information/Communication Services Communications	Flotilla Commander Vice Commander Staff Officer for: Secretary/Records Personnel Services Member Training Marine Safety Information/ Communication Services Communications