Don ’ s generosity and commitment to making his community a better place is never-ending .
Those of us in his family know that his deep love for his family is even greater …
He is nonjudgmental and supportive in his unique way …
He brings us great joy and makes our lives better . We are truly blessed to have him .
Ginny Christopher Daughter-In-Law
Family When Don and Karen ran into each other at a local fundraiser at the Veterans Hall in 1997 , they didn ’ t know that three years later they would be blending their families . Karen got to know Don over several years ’ time while working at her sister-in-law Carolyn Tognetti ’ s business , Garlic World , where Don was Carolyn ’ s business partner .
They were married in the Presbyterian Church by Pastor Bruce Rowlison , were joined by family and friends at the Eagle Ridge Golf Club for the reception , and honeymooned in London and Paris . Over the years , they have enjoyed the blending of their families and making new traditions . Karen has three children , Erica , Vince and Kevin , and Don has two sons , Bill and Rob . Today , the couple ’ s family includes fifteen grandchildren and a great -grandson .
Mentor Mike Rauschnot and Steve Costa consider Don an inspirational mentor . They had gone to school with Don ’ s son Bill , and Mike had enjoyed a summer job at the Christopher Ranch . Steve had spent the majority of his junior and senior high school years at the Christopher home . Both feel they owe a significant measure of their success in business to Don .
In 1983 , when Mike and his brother started MJR Electric , it was Don that he went to for help . He recalls that Don gave him “ a lot of information about what to expect when starting a business … and what moves to make . He worked with me to become successful .” Don helped Mike and his brother with the initial planning and was instrumental in getting the business up and running . He found them a property on which they could build and expand their business into the successful , well respected Bay Area electrical contractor that it is today .
After graduating from Cal Poly , Steve Costa partnered with longtime family friends Don and Bill Christopher to found Headstart Nursery , Inc . Costa built six greenhouses in Gilroy to hold the company ’ s first order of bell pepper transplants for Christopher Ranch . In those days , the transplant industry was still young and had little exposure on the west coast .
Don had asked Steve to work for him after college but he recognized that Steve wanted to try something different , so he shared his vision for Headstart and offered Steve the opportunity to partner with him in the venture . As Steve tells it , “ That was quite an inspiring offer for a young kid out of college … and here we are , 36 years later . The nursery that started in 1978 with one location and 42,000 square feet of greenhouse has expanded to nine locations with over 2,300,000 square feet .
JUST SOME OF THE MANY WAYS DON HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE — Christopher High School School receives 5 % of an Endowment Fund for educational needs yearly • over $ 4 million for new Sports Park • two vans for transporting staff and students • Chrome books • temporary bleachers • wifi Community Art Center New flooring • replaced fluorescent lighting with canned lighting • ADA restroom • caterer ’ s kitchen • outside signage and marquee Gilroy High School Tablets • two vans for transporting staff and students • Chrome books • temporary bleachers • financial support for choir • athletic program • band uniforms Scholarships Started in 2012 , range from $ 1,000 to $ 20,000 over 31 students have received monies for college CMAP ( Community Media Access Partnership ) studio renovation • high quality equipment to enable them to create community productions • robotic cameras • broadcast control room Gavilan College Air conditioning in Theater • support for facilities bond to renovate campus • contributed to the Rudy Melone fund to create an endowment 20
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