Donald James McCabe. - Told his last tall tale and enjoyed his last Irish whiskey. He passed away on Friday, February 14, 2020, of natural causes. He was 87 years old. A virtual Celebration of Donald’s Life will be held at 3PM Saturday, May 30, 2020 on Zoom using the link provided below. https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fus02web.zoom.us%2Fj%2F86455372887&data=02%7C01%7C%7C41457d366f6c436c9c7708d80400fde1%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637263749585146415&sdata=ZhHfmykMMHADkoMvqiMl9%2FRYvaKHpvDTF1HQRvXuLn0%3D&reserved=0 Meeting ID: 864 5537 2887 Don had two great passions in life that consumed his energy. The first passion was duplicate bridge. He was introduced to bridge in high school, and soon became obsessed with the game. Don became a grand master and was thought of as one of the best duplicate bridge players in Michigan, winning countless tournaments. McCabe’s profession was as a teacher. He had been a high school English teacher at Flint Northwestern High School teaching college preparatory classes. That is until he became involved with union organizing. His activism resulted in him being reassigned to teach high school students who could not even read their own name. This new challenge altered the course of his life. He had not been taught how to teach reading, so he attempted to use the standard educational materials available. Don didn’t find any of them adequate and so began to create his own materials. In his ignorance and naivete, he thought he would be able to write a resource book over his summer break from school. He soon realized that it would take years to complete. His work with literacy led to him leaving the classroom to embark on a crusade to bring the materials he created to market to help students on a larger and nationwide level. Donald founded the educational research foundation AVKO in 1974. Don wrote over 40 books and tutored countless individuals. Some came to him thinking they were unable to read. Within 30 minutes, he was always able to demonstrate to them that reading was something they could achieve. He was an inspirational teacher whose talents helped an untold number of people. His life and legacy will continue in those whose lives were touched by his educational materials. Don McCabe was the third of seven children to Lemuel Cicero McCabe and (Agnes) Berniece Webb. He was born October 4, 1932 in Flint. Don attended Flint schools including Flint Technical High School (1950), Flint Junior College, University of Detroit, and Michigan State University. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War in Kyoto, Japan. He married Ann Smith in 1958. Don has two children: Robert James and Linda Carol (married to Scott Nevin). Three grandsons: Jason (Nora), Brian, and Ian Nevin. He is survived by: Wife, Ann; Children: Robert, and Linda; Grandsons; Brothers: Thomas (Wilma) and James (Richard Schoenherr), and many nieces and nephews. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Please sign our guest book or share an online condolence with the family at www.oguinnfh.com. O’Guinn Family Funeral Home Clio Chapel 810.686.5070