Donald L. Bosseau, 86, of La Mesa, California passed away peacefully March 23, 2023, at UCSD Jacobs Medical Center in La Jolla, California. He was born November 28, 1936, in Pittsburg, Kansas to Demar Jr. and Jessie Bosseau. Don graduated from Pittsburg High School (1954) and then attended Pittsburg State University (1954-1956), where he was also a member of ROTC. He graduated from Kansas State University (1960) with an undergraduate degree in nuclear engineering. He was appointed to the U. S. Atomic Energy Commission Graduate Fellowship in Radiological Physics (1960-1961) and earned a graduate degree in nuclear engineering with a minor in radiological physics at the University of Kansas (1961). He was proud of his Kansas roots and grateful to his educators, crediting them and their academic institutions with propelling his future success.
His nuclear engineering profession began in 1961 at General Atomic in La Jolla, California. Several years later, seeking greater professional and personal fulfillment, Don obtained a graduate degree in Library and Information Studies at the University of Hawaii at Honolulu (1966). Don's more than 35-year career in academic library management, operations, and development focused on the future of libraries and systems automation; his contributions to the profession are many. He achieved meaningful accomplishments at institutions, including the University of California at San Diego, Emory University, University of Hawaii, San Diego State University, and the University of Miami (FL).
His life and career were further enriched by participating in professional associations, including ACCUL, ACRL, ACURIL, ALA, ARL, CARL. Honors and recognition include local, state, and national committees, boards, and honor societies, including SCHOLIA Town and Gown Honorary Society and the Mayor's City of the Future task force for Electronic Libraries and The Wired City, both in San Diego. The many publications and papers he authored, and his participation in teaching, professional activities, and university service carried a single theme: development of library professionals and the quality and effective delivery of educational and research information to students and educators, and the public at-large. Don Bosseau was an avid athlete in baseball, basketball, tennis, and surfing. The football and basketball programs of his alma maters were followed faithfully throughout his life. He loved music, audio-video-photographic equipment, DIY remodeling his homes, and a good bargain. He was a humble and accomplished person who was admired by his family and closest friends, and colleagues for his grit and determination. "Every man dies, not every man truly lives." (Author unknown) Don truly lived to the fullest and will be dearly missed. Survivors include his wife of 24 years, Jeanne (nee Ross); his sister and brother, Lillian Bosseau of Pittsburg, KS, and Jason Bosseau (Elizabeth Winthrop) of New York, NY; and two children Jeanne brought into his life, Mallory (Jonathan) Scott of Perth Amboy, NJ and Andrew (Elizabeth) Ross of Ardmore, AL. He was delighted to become a grandpa to Ayden, Ian, and Matthew. We are grateful to White Rose Aqua Cremation in Escondido, CA, for their compassionate and professional services.
Don's final resting place will be at Frontenac City Cemetery in Frontenac, KS. The family suggests memorial donations be given to Pittsburg State University Foundation. Memorials can be mailed to the Pittsburg State University Foundation, Inc., PO Box 4005, Pittsburg, KS 66762, or can be given online at www.pittstate.edu/givenow.
