If there was ever a person whose life was filled with colorful and magical threads, it was Donald Fowler. He looked at each person and opportunity as a brilliant new thread to weave into his life’s tapestry.
There was the thread of the theater. From acting to producing, Donald loved the boards. Just because he had no formal musical training, he didn’t let that deter him from writing the book and songs for his original musical, “Creep – the very, very sad but unfortunately true and completely fabricated tale of Jack-The-Ripper” that debuted at WaterTower Theatre in 2015. Who would have thought of a musical based on the legendary Jack The Ripper? Donald did.
There was the thread of his innate retailing talent from working with the former Nest to overseeing the Nasher Sculpture Center Store.
There was the thread of his ability to collect for people. When he entered a room of strangers, he left with a herd of new best friends.
Just before taking off on an afternoon jog Sunday, he wrote on Facebook, “There’s a holiday for everything, and lucky for us today happens to be National Garden Meditation Day! Celebrate in the spirit of the Nasher by taking a moment out of your day to relax in your garden.”
Minutes later he was killed on the Houston Street Viaduct when he was struck by a DART streetcar.
Like so many talented artists, Donald’s life was cut too short. His untimely death at the age of 58 was a great loss to all who knew him.
A memorial service is being planned to take place after the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. A fund honoring Donald is being set up at The Dallas Foundation.