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Uploaded: Tuesday, January 27, 2009, 2:34 PM

Menlo Park vintner dies in apparent suicide
Donn Paul Reisen, 60, was president of Ridge Vineyards

by Dave Boyce
Almanac Staff

Posted by qq, a resident of the Barron Park neighborhood, on Jan 27, 2009 at 3:31 pm

[Post removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]

Posted by HS, a resident of another community, on Jan 27, 2009 at 6:05 pm

Donn wasn't depressed over money, I knew him well. This wasn't about money. Donn had a severe bicycling accident on Alpine Road in Ladera four or five years ago and almost died. In constant pain and under continual medical treatment, poor Donn never, ever *really* recovered. I suppose we'll never know the real story, but my best guess is that he'd *had enough*. A damned shame, I and hundreds of other people he's touched over the years will miss him, a lot. Rest well Donn.

Posted by HS, a resident of another community, on Jan 27, 2009 at 6:26 pm

[Post removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]

Posted by MB, a resident of the Adobe-Meadows neighborhood, on Jan 27, 2009 at 6:37 pm

Donn was a great man. He will be missed greatly.

Posted by Colin Gray, a resident of another community, on Jan 27, 2009 at 8:24 pm

As a 'youngster' of 57, someone who has had twelve orthopeadic surgeries in the last nine years (including two artificial knees and one artificial ankle ... and with two thumb joints to go!), I am truly saddened at the comments that this may be a story of unbearable pain and suffering. I did not know the man, only the pleasure of enjoying the quality product his name was associated with. What sadness that his personal or economic circumstance was such that he 'apparently' chose this solution.

To those who so 'casually' tie this situation to the economic consequences of Wall Street's callously immoral excesses ... may I say:

1)Judge not events of which YOU KNOW nothing...

2)May you suffer your words "in spades" if a close family member EVER suffers from the true darkness of depression...

[Portion removed due to disrespectful comment or offensive language]

A stranger's sympathies to his family...

Posted by terryg, a resident of the Evergreen Park neighborhood, on Jan 27, 2009 at 8:51 pm

What a loss. My heart goes out to his family.

Posted by MM, a resident of another community, on Jan 27, 2009 at 9:08 pm

This was not the result of finances or the economy. A wonderful person is gone and we should not judge. $15,000 wine tour was for charity.

Posted by TwoSides, a resident of the South of Midtown neighborhood, on Jan 27, 2009 at 11:17 pm

So sad. I'm so sorry for him and his family.

Posted by YouShouldKnow, a resident of the Old Palo Alto neighborhood, on Jan 28, 2009 at 12:34 am

The pain from orthopedic injury is sometimes unbearable. Meds only do so much, and after a time people come to despise them almost as much as the physical pain! Sometimes you start feeling useless and a burden to your loved ones. My empathy and sympathy for this man and his family. I'm sorry this had to be the way he sought peace.

Posted by USA, a resident of Mountain View, on Jan 28, 2009 at 9:25 am

That is a terrible loss. I hope he has the peace he sought.

Posted by Kathryn Hunt, a resident of another community, on Jan 28, 2009 at 9:01 pm

This will probably remain one of those truly unexplainable events with no describable cause. Donn was warm, funny, generous, friendly, gregarious, and goofy! He brought all of these attributes to every social situation. I know he will be missed by all who knew him and my thoughts, support, and love go out to his family and especially his wife, my dear friend of 20 years.

Posted by Cherry, a resident of the University South neighborhood, on Jan 28, 2009 at 10:17 pm

Donn had a wonderful way of making everyone he knew feel special. Somehow when you were in his presence you felt happy, energized and good about yourself. He had such a warmth towards people and a great enthusiasm for life. So many people are going to miss him in so many ways.

Posted by CDA, a resident of another community, on Jan 30, 2009 at 2:39 pm

Donn was one of the most special people I was ever fortunate enough to meet and know. If you never met him or knew him, you truly missed out.

Donn could walk into the room and the presence just changed. You always felt happy when talking with him or thinking of him.

He was laid back, funny, caring, thoughtful, and generous. He will be sorely missed and forever remembered.

RIP Donn, you were admired and loved.

Posted by Barbara, a resident of the Downtown North neighborhood, on Jan 30, 2009 at 4:07 pm

What a joy Donn was. He taught us how exqusite a Ridge merlot was and showed my friend and I how to smoke a Chateaubriand to perfection. He was a joy to know. And perhaps, just like the dove when it's finally released from his cage flies to the heavens, so does the human soul, when finally released from it's body, flies home to God.