H. Donald Hinman

Don passed away on October 20th 2024, after a brief second battle with cancer, at Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca New York. 

He is survived by his former wife Barbara A. (Knapp) Hinman, his son Robert D. and his wife Tracie, their sons Jacob and Zachary, son Philip J. and his wife Elisabeth and their sons William and Joseph, his daughter Donna A. Kenna and her husband John, and his niece Renee Knapp.

Don was born October 3rd, 1936 in Binghamton, NY of parents Harold J. I. Hinman and Iva E. M. Buck. He attended Port Dickinson Junior High and North High school graduating in 1954. He spent the next two years at Harpur College and then the next two years at DeVry Technical Institute in Chicago, IL, graduating in 1958. He joined the Army Reserves in May of 1954.

Through-out his life he loved most forms of music and started voice lessons at age 5. In junior high and later in high school he sang solos starting as a soprano and later as a baritone and bass. While still in high school he began singing with The Cleff Club of Binghamton. Upon graduation in 1958 he started his career at the GE Westover LMED plant, later moved to the IBM Glendale Lab, then returned to GE where he worked until October of 1961 when his Reserve Unit was activated during the Berlin Crisis. He completed his 8 year military obligation and was discharged in July 1962 at the rank of Staff Sergeant.

Following his discharge he returned to work for GE. In November 1962 he married Barbara Knapp and later moved to Ithaca, New York and started a 30 year career at The Veterinary College at Cornell University, retiring in 1994 as Director of The Biomedical Electronics Services Department. During his time at Cornell he also served as Chair of The Cornell Employee Assembly. Some of the accomplishments that he was most proud of during his time in the electronics field were developing a field test for lead poisoning through the use of an HP calculator, stylus, and tap pad to assess decreased reflex action, and extensive work on technology which was a precursor to our current pulse oximeters.

He was truly a “jack of all trades” who would find a way to solve an issue when none was apparent. He would also tell humorous stories of the young Vet students who would bring him boxes of broken equipment asking for his help repairing it. He loved taking care of the students at Cornell as well as this staff.

He became involved in Kiwanis baseball and scouting as his boys joined Cub Scouts, Webelos and Boy Scouts. The number of Pine Car Derby cars that he supervised construction of are innumerable, though there are many awards in his son’s attics that attest to the attention to detail that he taught them. He later became involved with his daughter in Campfire Girls.

Music continued to be a very important part of his life as he sang with local church choirs, a local men’s glee club, the Ithaca Community Chorus and Chamber Singers, and The Savage Club of Ithaca. He started singing Barbershop in 1964 with a quartet called the Tetraphonics. As some members moved on he started singing with a new quartet called Sound-A-Chord. He participated in Barbershop competitions in both the Chorus and Quartet disciplines. Those close to him continued to get together regularly to sing.

He was known to all who knew him as a man of many talents who was always seeking ways to help others. He would often speak of his efforts at the annual Rotary Pancake Breakfast on Election Day (he was also a Paul Harris Fellow Recipient), being a member in good standing with the Elks Club, preparing mincemeat pie for neighbors, and cooking Cornell Chicken, Spiedies, and other recipes which he loved to share (and all who were there loved to eat). He was always willing to provide support, insight, or resources to help his friends and neighbors with projects, or in times of need.

The most special times were with family, throwing the Frisbee in the yard, laughing about silly things, and enjoying time together. His impact on his community will be missed, and his booming baritone will no longer move those listening to tears.

A Memorial Service in his honor will be held at the First Congregational Church at 309 Highland Road, Ithaca, NY at 10:30 am Saturday, February 1st, 2025.

It is requested that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the First Congregational Church Organ Fund, which accompanied him on so many joyful Sundays.

Remember, “Sing a little, every day!”