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07/18/2024 03:34 PMDonald “Don” Gylum Hudson, a resident at Harbor Chase in Madison, passed away peacefully on July 2, 2024, with family gathered around him in person and spirit.
Don was born in Lebanon (then known as Syria) on Oct. 16, 1927. His father served on the faculty of the American University in Beirut, and his mother (a graduate of the University of Chicago) supported the family, including during their subsequent move back to the United States.
Raised primarily in Evanston, Illinois, Don graduated from Northwestern McCormick School of Engineering and later received his MBA from Northwestern Kellogg School of Management. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps, first at Fort Sheridan in Colorado and then at Scofield Barracks in Hawaii until the fall of 1947. In 1956, Don met and married his wife, Sue, who preceded him in death in 2022. Don joined Procter & Gamble in Chicago, relocating later to Macon (Georgia) and then Cincinnati (Ohio). The family then spent 57 years in New Canaan (Connecticut) as Don embarked on a longer engagement as a management consultant.
He was a partner with Booz Allen and Hamilton and finished his career as a partner at Towers Perrin. After retiring, Don pursued his passion for helping business students launch their careers. He worked in career counseling at the NYU Stern School of Business and then the Yale School of Management. During this time, he co-authored Finding Your Way with an MBA, a career planning guide for MBA students, with Susan Cohn.
Don participated in a rich array of community service roles in New Canaan. As a member of St. Mark’s for over 50 years, Don served on the vestry and was active in many of the church’s outreach programs. He also was a member of the vestry at Trinity Church Wall Street from 1984 to 1990. Don volunteered as his sons’ Little League coach and served on the Board of Education for New Canaan Public Schools. One of his greatest passions was supporting the work-study program at New Canaan High School.
Don enjoyed playing tennis and golf, participating in a book club, and was engaged in activities with the Senior Men’s Club in New Canaan. He was an avid ham radio operator and member of the Greater Norwalk Amateur Radio Club.
Being a grandpa was Don’s greatest joy later in life. He routinely entertained his grandchildren with puns and other gags, and always took an active interest in the personal goals and aspirations of each of those grandchildren: Miriam, Annika, Wyatt, Kevin, Lilian, and Olivia.
In addition to his grandchildren, Don is survived by his son Scott (and his wife Susan), his son Stewart (and his wife Jackie), and his daughter Sherrill (and her husband Paul).
A private family service will be held at the St. Mark’s Columbarium later this year. Contributions can be made to Greater Norwalk Amateur Radio Corp. Inc., 304 Main Ave. #115, Norwalk, CT. 06851-6167, Attn: Don Hudson Memorial.