SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 929
	WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas honors and
	commemorates the life of Martin Donald, who died February 10, 2007,
	at the age of 86; and
	WHEREAS, Martin Donald was an exemplary man who touched
	the hearts of countless people, and he was fittingly remembered
	and celebrated in the following words by his grandson-in-law,
	Rabbi Brian Strauss of Congregation Yeshurun in Houston:
	Today, I stand before you as a rabbi to deliver
	the eulogy of Martin Donald, the ultimate survivor,
	a fighter, a man who had the tenacity and know-how
	to successfully live the American dream.  I also
	stand before you today as a husband of one of his
	grandchildren, to deliver the eulogy of Pappa.  It
	speaks volumes that to so many of us he was known as
	Pappa.  Because Pappa was the ideal family Patriarch,
	a man of wisdom and generosity, whose tight bear
	hugs symbolized the great love he showered on so
	many of us.
	Pappa always gave everything he could to
	those he loved.  He also paved the way for future
	generations with his determination to make life
	even better for those who would come after him.
	I was blessed to be one of the recipients of his
	legacy, a legacy that I proudly share with you
	today.
	Pappa's life began on May 2, 1920, when he was
	born to Robert and Freida Dorffmann in Berlin, Germany.
	Pappa had one younger sister, Erna.  His dad was
	involved in the textile industry.  Through his
	example, Pappa gained a great business sense which
	would serve him well later in his life.  There was a
	large Dorffmann clan in Germany--uncles and aunts,
	cousins.  They were proud Jews and proud Germans.
	Life was good for Pappa and his family.  His parents
	were Orthodox Jews who observed Shabbat and other
	Jewish rituals and traditions.  But they also loved
	Germany, and his dad fought for the German Kaiser
	during World War I.  But everything changed when
	Hitler came to power in 1933.
	Pappa was forced to quit school and help the
	family earn a living.  So he got involved in the fur
	trade, finding himself a mentor.
	That mentor was a short German Jewish man named
	Gustaf.  Pappa had to learn quickly because when
	Pappa did something wrong, Gustaf would stand on his
	chair and hit Pappa on his head with his ruler.  Many
	of the family members who were dispersed throughout
	Germany came to Berlin to support each other.  But
	things only got worse for Pappa and his family.
	German Jews like Pappa's parents never thought
	that something really terrible could ever happen to
	them.  That Hitler would pass on.  Pappa saw what was
	really happening.  In January of 1939, he was able to
	secure working papers to leave with his cousin Leo
	for England.  He was forced to leave the rest of his
	family and was left on his own in a new country at
	age 19.  In England, through a mutual and eventual
	lifelong friend, Netti Speigel, Pappa soon met
	another refugee from Germany named Ann Speeseman.
	They quickly became good friends.
	Unfortunately, Pappa had to leave Ann and his
	new life in London when the British, fearful of a
	fifth column, rounded up many of the German men
	(even some of the Jews) and sent them on prisoner
	of war ships to Canada.  Fights broke out every
	day aboard ship between the Jews and Germans.
	Fortunately, the British soon realized their
	mistake and Pappa was shipped back to England two
	months later with an apology.
	It was then that he realized he had to do
	something to help fight the Nazis, knowing his
	parents were still in Germany.  He enlisted in the
	British army and, with his ability to speak both
	English and German, he eventually became a warrant
	officer in British Intelligence.  He loved serving
	in the army.  Being on his own, he liked the structure
	and discipline that army life provided.  He landed
	in Normandy shortly after D-Day.  He had to change
	his last name from Dorffmann to Donald to hide his
	Jewish identity because of the fear of being caught
	by the Germans.
	He eventually went with his unit back to
	Germany and was devastated by the atrocities he
	witnessed at two concentration camps, including the
	infamous Bergen-Belsen.  After the war, he obtained
	permission to go to Berlin to find out whether any of
	his large family was still alive.  Unfortunately,
	all of his immediate family, including his parents,
	sister, uncles, and cousins were all murdered in
	concentration camps.  In all, he lost over 40 family
	members.
	Later he was assigned to occupied Hamburg to
	work on finding and interrogating German officers.
	There, he became good friends with a top colonel
	and he soon found himself as one of the few people
	actually running occupied Hamburg.  Through his hard
	work they caught many former Nazi officers and
	officials, including the former German Foreign
	Minister, von Ribbentrop.
	It was then that he was asked to reenlist in the
	army.  Not knowing what he should do, he looked for
	advice from his friend Ann, who was still in London.
	He wrote her letters asking her advice on whether he
	should stay in the army or return to civilian life
	in London.  She advised him to come back; that he
	couldn't stay in the army his entire life.  Perhaps
	she had other motives as well, because six months
	later they were married.  Their close friendship had
	quickly become something more.
	On June 15, 1947, they took the first step in
	a journey that would last them 59 years together as
	husband and wife.  Throughout their marriage, their
	respect and admiration grew year by year.  They often
	balanced each other well and were always there to
	support each other and enjoy life to the fullest.
	With a close friend, Pappa soon started a fur
	business named Donald and Brooks.  He was doing
	well and they were beginning a new life together in
	London.  But they had to make another decision.  It
	had always been Ann's parents Mawtel and Sala's
	dream to move to America.  And so in November of 1947,
	aboard the Queen Mary, Nana and Pappa came to
	America to begin their American dream.
	Throughout his life in America, Pappa often
	said that there was no better country in the world
	because America became the place they could fulfill
	all of their worthy desires.  Their American dream
	began quickly when in May of 1948, on his 28th
	birthday, Nana gave birth to their oldest child,
	Florence.
	Two years later, their second child, Mark, was
	born.  Life was not easy at the beginning of their
	new life in America.  They lived in a tiny apartment
	and Pappa promised Nana that within the year they
	would be out of that apartment.  He kept his word,
	and within the year they moved to a larger and nicer
	apartment in Brooklyn.  He started in the fur business,
	working for his Uncle Mannie Wieser.  Eventually,
	he and his cousin Leon Dunnegar and his good friend
	Sam Zor started their own fur business.
	It was hard work.  Every Sunday night he would
	pack up his car and early Monday he would begin his
	drive throughout the country selling his furs.
	Eventually, business became very good in Texas.  So
	in 1960, they moved to Dallas.  In Dallas, he started
	the Elegant Furs Company.
	After the fur business ended, with his friend
	Bob Statman, he started a costume jewelry business.
	Eventually, Pappa and Bob owned Dallas Woodcraft,
	which manufactured picture frames and was a key
	vendor for Don Carter's Home Interiors business.
	Dallas Woodcraft was finally bought out by Home
	Interiors and Pappa retired at age 60.  Retirement
	was not easy for Pappa.
	The structure and discipline of work was
	important to him.  Despite his drive to earn a good
	living for his family, he was always there for his
	loving family.  He had been cheated out of his family
	by the Nazis, so he was determined not to be cheated
	out of his family again.  Family became his central
	passion in his life.
	When distant family members found their way
	to America, he was there to help guide and support
	them.  He always went out of his way to keep in
	touch.  He would often call family members all over
	the world.
	He considered his many close friends he made in
	Dallas his family as well.  Pappa was strong-willed,
	he had high expectations, he was a traditionalist,
	he demanded respect, and his family always gave him
	the respect he deserved.
	He was also his children's first advisor.  He
	would often give his children his advice by helping
	them work towards those decisions through his great
	wisdom and insight on business, politics, and life
	in general.  He supported Florence in her politics
	and Mark as a writer.  He was the foundation for
	their success.  He was also there for his son-in-law,
	Howard, and daughter-in-law, Esther, when they came
	into his life.  He thought of them as his children
	and he loved them dearly.
	They helped give him the great joy of six
	grandchildren--Lisa, Todd, Staci, Adam, Max, and
	Lilly. They too could always go to him with anything
	they needed. He made them feel important and special
	because he believed in them. He loved to give them
	his huge bear hugs and kisses in the ear.
	When they were children, Lisa, Todd, and Staci
	would spend the night with Nana and Pappa every
	Friday night. While there he would play and
	interact with them.  He loved to tell them stories
	and jokes. He loved to swim and play games. He did
	many of the same things with his younger grandchildren,
	Adam, Max, and Lilly. He was their number one fan.
	When Adam started a band with his friends, he
	went to Pappa for some financial backing. Of course,
	Pappa never turned anyone away and helped back the
	band. So they "honored" him by naming their band
	"The Rockin' Pappas."
	He was at his grandchildren's sporting events,
	graduations, weddings; at the births of his six
	great-grandchildren, at every important moment in
	their lives, he was there.
	He was extremely generous and supportive to his
	grandchildren, and in turn they all loved and adored
	him.
	He loved his six great-grandchildren as
	well--Joshua, Noa, Ari, Ella, Sam, and Zachary.
	If he saw Max, Lilly, and Joshua here today, he would
	tell them they look as sharp as a matzoh ball.
	(We're still trying to figure out what that means.)
	Pappa not only had a passion for family but he
	also had a zest for life. He loved to laugh and tell
	stories. He enjoyed quiet moments outside bathing
	in the sun and the tranquil moments at night outside
	by his pool.
	He loved his dogs, including Shepp, Ceaser,
	Rex, and most recently Parker.
	He enjoyed the entertainment side of life. He
	had a passion for gin, tennis, and over the years got
	involved in horse racing as a part-time owner.
	He loved to gamble.  Once he even went so far
	as to tell his beloved wife that he had to extend a
	business trip, but instead was making a side trip to
	Las Vegas. When he returned home, Nana was so upset
	with him that she chased him around the house with a
	broom!
	When he was gambling, we all wanted to make
	sure we were next to him at the craps table because
	when you were down on your luck, he would always
	slide you some of his chips. He wanted you to feel
	good and be a winner like him.
	He and Nana traveled across the world to places
	like Israel, Russia, and China.
	He enjoyed good times with his close friends.
	He became very close to his in-laws, Beedie and
	Harry, even though they were complete cultural
	opposites--Nana and Pappa were from Europe,
	Beedie was from Georgia, and Harry was from
	San Saba, Texas.
	On his first visit to San Saba, Pappa was in a
	world he had never seen before. But everyone loved
	Pappa and he was soon wearing his first cowboy hat
	and boots. It was a sight to see!
	He was involved in the community.
	Adolph Teitelbaum got him involved with an
	organization called SCORE, where he relished
	meeting with younger businessmen, giving them
	his advice. He was an entrepreneur, and this
	was his way of giving back.
	Despite his experiences in Germany, Pappa
	loved being Jewish.  He was a proud Jew, and to him,
	being a good Jew was being a good man.
	He became a cofounder of the Dallas Holocaust
	Museum. He was involved in its inception and it
	became a very important place to him. He wanted
	to make sure that the memories of those who were
	murdered would always be preserved.
	His home was a distinctly Jewish home, and
	for his grandchildren, it represented the place to
	celebrate the Jewish holidays. Hanukkah parties,
	Rosh Hashanah dinners, Passover Seders . . . Nana
	and Pappa's home helped define their Judaism.
	I was blessed to see Pappa in his element at
	some of those dinners.  Surrounded by those he loved
	the most, telling his stories, kissing us all, and
	giving all of us the encouragement and love only
	Pappa could give.
	When I first met Lisa, she often told me that
	her Pappa was always there for her.  And I was
	quickly blessed to see that Pappa was soon always
	there for me.
	When I gave my first sermons as a rabbinical
	student, he would come to listen. When we went to
	his vacation home in Florida, we would spend nights
	out on the balcony as he shared more of his life
	stories and wisdom with me. He would inspire me
	again.
	And when Lisa and I were first married, Pappa
	was there to take us to Vegas!
	There are three recent experiences I had with
	him that I believe summarize his life.
	Two years ago, his daughter, Florence, as
	Senate Pro Tem, served as Governor of the Day for the
	State of Texas.  That day, Pappa, with his Nana at
	his side, was able to see his daughter serving as
	governor.  Sixty-five years earlier, they were
	shunned by the country they were born in, almost
	losing their lives for being Jews.
	But in America, they got to see their daughter
	become governor. Not only had Nana and Pappa passed
	on their Jewish heritage to their children, but they
	had fulfilled the American dream.
	Both of their children had done extremely well
	in life.  They had provided their children the
	opportunities, given them the encouragement and
	support they needed, so that now one of their
	children could even rise to the highest levels of
	government.
	That morning, the entire Senate Chamber rose
	to give Nana and Pappa a standing ovation. It was a
	moment none of us will ever forget.
	Last night, the President of the United States
	called Florence to offer his condolences. Today the
	Lieutenant Governor and members of the state House
	and Senate are here. When Pappa fled for his life
	from Germany in 1939, never could he imagine these
	things.
	There was another moment none of us would ever
	forget. Last December, Pappa took his close family
	to the Bahamas. He was so excited about that trip.
	Yes, it was hard for Pappa to travel in his wheelchair.
	But it would be a chance for him to have fun with
	those he loved.
	One night in the Bahamas, he sat in his
	wheelchair at the craps table. He was soon on a
	roll. He would lift himself out of his wheelchair,
	put the chips down, and roll the dice. Girls at the
	other end of the table were yelling "Go Pappa!" That
	night, he won nearly $5,000 and he was Pappa once
	again. Having fun, enjoying life surrounded by his
	family.
	Last May, we celebrated Pappa's 86th birthday
	with a luncheon in his honor. One last time, Pappa
	got to see his family and friends come honor him.
	Many of us toasted and hugged Pappa that day. We
	wanted to make sure that he knew how proud we were of
	him and thankful for everything he had always given
	to us.
	That day he knew. Despite the discomfort he
	was in, he was so grateful. He was so happy to say
	thank you, I love you.
	At that birthday luncheon, I mentioned that
	according to Judaism, age 80 is considered the age
	of strength.
	Age 80 seems like a strange age to be called an
	age of strength?
	But it is considered an age of strength because
	at 80 some are fortunate enough to be respected for
	their great common sense and insight to life.  Pappa
	was certainly one of those people.
	And in many ways, when he was 80 he was still
	physically strong.
	But soon after he turned 80, he began to lose
	his physical strength.
	The last several years were not easy. He was
	often in and out of the hospital. He was in pain.
	But many men could have not survived as long as he
	did. But most men are not like Pappa.
	He was blessed throughout his struggle to have
	his caretakers and doctors, his children and his
	grandchildren, and first and foremost, his loving
	Ann at his side.
	It was she that was there for him to the very
	end as she had always been. She was there as his
	security blanket, his first support and love.
	Pappa was a man whose experiences make the
	cost of his children's and grandchildren's lives
	seem easy and simple.
	But the reality is that he persevered
	throughout his life so that his children and
	grandchildren could live those relatively easy
	lives.
	The Nazis wanted to end his life.  But they
	could not stop Martin Donald.  Despite their efforts,
	he gave this world two children, six grandchildren,
	and now six Jewish great-grandchildren and
	counting.
	Today, Hitler is rolling in his grave because
	of men like Martin Donald who he could not stop.
	Today, Pappa is reuniting with his parents and
	sister in heaven, smiling at what he left in this
	world.
	Years ago, he would often tell his children
	about the time when he was forced to say goodbye
	to his mother. As he boarded the train to leave
	Germany, his mother told him that she feared that
	she would never see him again.
	Unfortunately, she was correct.  She never did
	see him again.
	And he would tell his children this story again
	and again to emphasize to them the responsibility
	they had to preserve their Jewish heritage they
	would one day have to pass on themselves.
	Pappa succeeded and now, because of the way he
	and Nana raised them, they are also succeeding. And
	so are their children.  They are following the ways
	of their Pappa.
	Today, we lay to rest Martin Dorffmann, who
	became Martin Donald, who became Pappa.
	It would have been admirable enough for him to
	have just been Martin Donald. Considering everything
	he had experienced, if he would have come to America
	and just built his successful business, that would
	have been enough.
	But he was more special than that. He became
	a Pappa, a Patriarch and advisor, a man of great
	generosity and love, a man with a passion for life,
	family and helping those in need.
	A man whose presence will live on for many
	years to come because he became a Pappa.
	Zikrono Livracha "May his memory be for a
	blessing always."
	And to his precious life, let us say Amen.
	WHEREAS, An extraordinarily devoted husband, father, and
	grandfather, he was beloved by his family and countless friends,
	and he will long be remembered for his generous spirit, his keen
	insight, his perseverance, and his zest for life; now, therefore,
	be it
	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
	80th Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the
	bereaved family of Martin Donald: his beloved wife of 59 years,
	Ann Donald; his daughter, the Honorable Florence Shapiro;
	his son, Mark Donald; and his six grandchildren and six
	great-grandchildren; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
	the members of his family as an expression of deepest sympathy
	from the Texas Senate, and that when the Senate adjourns this
	day, it do so in memory of Martin Donald.
	Nelson
	Averitt Harris Shapiro
	Brimer Hegar Shapleigh
	Carona Hinojosa Uresti
	Deuell Jackson Van de Putte
	Duncan Janek Watson
	Ellis Lucio Wentworth
	Eltife Nichols West
	Estes Ogden Whitmire
	Fraser Patrick Williams
	Gallegos Seliger Zaffirini
	Dewhurst, President of the Senate
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	________________________________
	President of the Senate
	I hereby certify that the
	above Resolution was adopted by
	the Senate on May 2, 2007, by a
	rising vote.
	________________________________
	________________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	________________________________
	________________________________
	Member, Texas Senate