CONDOLENCES:
Roy Stallings
#17
April 3rd, 2020 12:43 pm
Jennifer, Sorry to hear of Don’s passing. Our deepest sympathies during this very difficult time. “Gone from our sight but never our hearts”. Roy & Cathy Stallings Savannah, Georgia
Wm. Park Allen
#16
February 27th, 2020 12:38 pm
I am one of the many pilots who climbed into Don’s J-3 Piper Cub (N7393H) for my first lesson on a cold November 11th day 1966. My first solo came on December 7th,1966; soon after, the winter snows started. That was no problem for Don! When I arrived for my lesson, Don greeted me at the J-3, equipped with a set of aluminum snow skies! All my flying experiences for the rest of the winter were on skies. When the snows cleared in the spring, the wheels went back on & I had to get used to the wheels again. I have many great memories of my flying days with Don. I had not seen him in years. “Don, I wish we could get the skis out again & warm our hands in front of the old stove!” Your old friend, “Bill” Allen ( Please let me know when the Celebration of Life will be at the airport. I am out of state & would like to attend. northwestbay@netzero.com)
Eileen Hunger Kusnirik
#15
February 22nd, 2020 9:59 am
Don and I went to school together. So many stories come to mind, the oldest is probably from 8th grade. He sat behind me in class, poked the heck out of my back the whole year. So sorry to hear of Don’t passing. He took his last flight.
Barbara Docker Auch
#14
February 18th, 2020 5:44 pm
I remember spending many weekends at the airport with my Dad (Lee Docker) working on his plane. Don took me and my Mom and Dad up in his red Piper cub and I’ll never forget it – what a thrill. I have so many fond memories of all those weekends at the airport when it was just a grassy field. Rest In Peace
John D. Henderson
#13
February 18th, 2020 4:08 pm
Don has been a mentor for over 63years and gave me a couple of my most cherished memories. First, November 1957 when he soloed me. Then some years later when I gave one of his students a flight test. I was more nervous than the applicant lest he fail. He didn’t. Don was a fount of wisdom. Thanks for the memories and the friendship.
Gilbert Stern
#12
February 17th, 2020 12:03 pm
Sorry to hear of Don’s passing. My wife and I extend our sincere condolences to Jennifer
Kenneth Steffan
#11
February 17th, 2020 10:32 am
So sorry to hear of Don’s passing. From the first time I landed at Hackettstown in 1959 to the first flight of my restored 1943 Stearman in 2002 Don has been a friend and mentor. Many happy hours were spent talking aviation with Don at the old picnic table next to his “office”. His field is the only one I ever landed at where fuel was sold on the honor system. Don was the initial sponsor for my “Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award”. He will be sorely missed. Thanks Don for all the good advise over the years. Fly west my friend.
Ed Smith
#10
February 17th, 2020 7:02 am
Don was a very lucky man! He spent his life where he wanted to be…… Be it on the ground looking at the mountains from the valley airport he called home or high in the sky, taking in the heavenly views. For over 35 years we would regularly meet at the airport, which generally turned into a story and reminiscing session that would usually end up with him saying how much he loved his life at the airport. Don taught me to fly in the 80’s. It was the foundation of a unique friendship that will never be recreated. His honest approach was refreshing, his candor sharp. I continue to hear his greetings…Good Morning Mr. Smith! he would say from across the field, and I would reply Good morning Mr. Schwanda! Now I say Goodbye Mr. Schwanda. I will miss you my friend. My sincere condolences to Jennifer and the family.
KAREN STEPHENS
#9
February 17th, 2020 3:31 am
Wow. Was just thinking about Don. How great he was and fun to fly with.
Jason and Jean lance
#8
February 16th, 2020 8:29 pm
Don thanks you for teaching me fly thank you for being my friend and thanks for the memories.!
Tom O’Keefe
#7
February 13th, 2020 11:29 am
I ‘am sorry to hear about Don’s passing.He was good guy, I remember when he sold me an ercoupe in 1991 and let me fix it up on the airport. I have great memories of flying that plane on my ‘dawn Patrol Missions ” over a cloud deck or flying down the shore with the windows open and the wind blowing through the cockpit! Those flights were magical and they wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for Don . Thanks Don.
Joy and Les Snyder, Sr.
#6
February 13th, 2020 9:36 am
To the Schwanda family: We are very saddened to hear of the passing of Don. Les spent many a day flying out of that airport in years gone by and also had flying instructions from Don. He was a good man and friend. R.I.P. You will be missed…Joy and Les Snyder
Dan Metz
#5
February 13th, 2020 8:51 am
I didn’t know Don that well, but I remember having short conversations with him while he was a resident at House of the Good Shepherd. He’d always say my food was the best he’d ever eaten. Rest in peace, sir.
Salvatore Dispenziere , Jr
#4
February 13th, 2020 6:50 am
Very sorry to hear about the passing of Don, he was a very respected man and always had kind words. Our prayers are with him and his family.
Joanne Stiff
#3
February 12th, 2020 10:28 pm
I’m so sorry to learn of Don’s passing. I knew him to be a kind and gentle man.
Bill Leavens
#2
February 12th, 2020 7:09 pm
I based at Hackettstown for ten years and always enjoyed my conversations with Don. He was one of the most genuine people I ever had the pleasure to know. In a sense, he taught me to fly while he was riding with me one afternoon. I got us into a situation where I clearly demonstrated how not to fly. Don recovered the aircraft. We both walked away and were able to savor that experience for nearly half a century. Rest in peace. The new angels will be getting a great instructor.
John M. Anastas
#1
February 12th, 2020 3:49 pm
So sorry to hear of Don’s passing. I spent many hours instructing for Don and his father at the Hackettstown Airport. They were a great aviation family.
1 Condolence for Donald Schwanda
Condolence(1)
Peter Sloan, Sr. says
March 9, 2024 at 4:32 pmDonald Schwanda, was a local icon. Mister Mchwanda as I called him, because I was a young child of 8, when he took me on my first flight from the his airport to the Delaware Water Gap and back. This became an annual treat, provided by my parents who were good friends with Don. It was said that it was safer to ride in a Piper Cub with Don Schwanda. Then writing with anybody in a car on the highway.
Rest in peace.