One of the longest-serving superintendents at Chehalis School District, and the founder of the Providence Centralia Hospital Foundation, died recently. Don Mitchell, 81, died in Henderson, Nevada, on Nov. 22
Mitchell was born in Yakima, grew up in Bingen, and lived for more than 30 years in the Chehalis community.
Many know him from the 15 years he spent as superintendent at the Chehalis School District from 1973 to 1988.
Both Chehalis Mayor Dennis Dawes and current Superintendent Ed Rothlin remember him from the time they were students.
Dawes remembers Mitchell fondly.
“I liked and respected Don from the time I was a student, to when he was the assistant superintendent, to the time I worked with him as a board member when he was the superintendent,” he said. “He was genuinely a nice guy.”
It wasn’t until Dawes joined the school board that he became more familiar with Mitchell.
“He was a very caring, compassionate individual,” Dawes said. “He cared deeply about the community, the students and the staff and had a lot of respect for everyone.”
Rothlin said he didn’t have much contact with Mitchell because by the time he was teaching and working to become an administrator, Mitchell had left to work at Providence Centralia Hospital.
But he remembers Mitchell from his time at W.F. West, and said it was Mitchell’s visibility that helped encourage his style as superintendent.
“Where I saw him the most was when I was a student,” he said. “He was visible and I knew who my superintendent was, so I have to say that does impact how visible I want to be. I think it’s very cool that a student might know who their superintendent was, because in a lot of districts that goes unnoticed.”
Rothlin recalled how Mitchell would play handball and racquetball with a friend before the school day began.
“I think that was his morning workout before school started,” he said.
After leaving the Chehalis School District, Mitchell was hired by Providence Centralia Hospital as the foundation director, where he remained until his retirement in 2001. After that, he and his wife, Jan, moved to Henderson, Nevada, where he lived until he died.
According to Chris Thomas, senior communication manager for the Southwest region of Providence, Mitchell helped create the foundation at the Centralia hospital in 1989. He remained involved with the foundation even after he retired.
Thomas said Mitchell was close with Providence Centralia sponsor Sister Carolyn Koreski, who died in 2010. Mitchell and his twin brother, Dale, were born one day apart from Koreski. After growing up near Koreski, they later reconnected at Providence Centralia.
“We are eternally grateful of the commitment of Don and the entire Mitchell family to the Lewis County community and Providence Centralia,” Centralia Foundation Executive Director Peter Brennan said. “Don’s spirit and inspiration has led to numerous programs and services made available through the work he started many years ago at Providence Centralia.”
According to his obituary, Mitchell is survived by three children, four grandchildren, one great-grandson,and his twin brother Dale of Puyallup.
“Don left a legacy of community service and caring for others and he will be missed,” stated the obituary.
