Erica Lynn Donaldson's Obituary
ERICA LYNN DONALDSONApril 11, 1981 – January 28, 2018Erica Lynn Donaldson, 36 years of age, after a long struggle, passed away January 28, 2018 in San Diego, California.Erica was born a special child but that did not stop her in living a full and productive life. With the help of her parents, especially her mother Nancy, she helped pave the way towards quality Special Education for students with severe disabilities in public schools. Erica, Nancy and a handful of concerned parents with special children began the crusade to save the mobility curriculum program, called MOVE at Revere School, and to prevent the closure of the Revere Development Center, founded in 1958. Their efforts in 1993 led to the acknowledgement to provide these types of services throughout the San Diego public school system. Erica successfully graduated from Crawford High School.Erica loved the great outdoors, camping at Idyllwild and Yosemite and going on adventures at California State Parks, especially Torrey Pines State Reserve. She would get excited when flying in her dad’s plane but would fall asleep to the droning noise of the engine. Cats, dogs, and all animals had a special attraction to her, often times snuggling up with her and her favorite toy animal. She kept an ongoing relationship with her special friends at Revere and Crawford and spent many good times at picnics in the parks throughout San Diego County.She loved unicorns and felt their magical powers as she dreamed of the day she would meet one. We feel she has now met her unicorn and is in a peaceful place.Her father, Milford Wayne Donaldson, her stepmother, Laurie Kim Donaldson and her uncle, Robert Donaldson, survives Erica. Erica’s mother, Nancy, passed away in 2001. We would like to give special thanks for Erica’s caregivers Joy Guevara, Elbert and Mary Speidel, folks at Golden Hill Subacute & Rehabilitation Center, especially “JJ” and all the people for work they do with special persons at Medicare, Medi-Cal, San Diego Regional Center of the San Diego-Imperial Counties Developmental Services, Health and Human Services Agency of the County of San Diego and many others who are blessed with the skills and consciousness for caring for persons with disabilities.The service will be by invitation only. In lieu of flowers or cards, please give a gift to those organizations that care for persons with severe disabilities in Erica’s name. Wayne and Laurie Donaldson thank you so much for caring.
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