Donald
Cline, 83, a resident of Albuquerque since 1942, passed away on
Sunday, March 28, 2004. He was born in Columbus, Ohio on November
9th, 1920, the youngest of seven children. As a teenager, he
developed a serious lung condition and, after a number of years of
unsuccessful treatment, his doctors told him that his only hope was
to move to a drier climate. He left his family and friends back home
and, having never seen so much as a picture postcard of Albuquerque,
arrived here by train on his 22nd birthday. He checked into the YMCA
across the street from the old Alvarado train station and started
his new life. This new life turned out to be a series of fortunate
circumstances, not the least of which was overcoming his lung
condition. He eventually obtained employment at Stromberg's, a local
men's clothing store. As he said many times, his most fortunate
circumstance occurred in 1946 when he was introduced to his future
wife, Dorothy Childers, by a mutual friend. They married September
29, 1947. He remained with Stromberg's for over thirty years where
he retired as vice-president of the corporation. He was elected
president of the Winrock Merchant's Association several times and
was also on the board of directors of the Albuquerque Chamber of
Commerce and Better Business Bureau and was a member of the 20/30
Club. He gave many of Albuquerque's current business leaders their
first jobs and instilled in them the work ethic that had served him
so well. While his tenure at Stromberg's allowed him to indulge his
passion for the retail business and fine men's clothing, he was also
equally passionate about American luxury automobiles. His close
friends will truly understand the following line; He has owned over
75 cars and there was never a speck of dust on any of them. Through
Stromberg's, his love of cars and his gregarious nature, he
developed literally hundreds of friends, every one of whom would
agree that he was genuinely thoughtful and caring and a man of
unrivaled honesty, integrity, generosity and humor. He will be
sorely missed by all. He is survived by his wife of 56 years,
Dorothy, two sons, John and Jeffrey, and two granddaughters, Lindsey
and Jamie Cline, all residents of Albuquerque. A Memorial Rosary
will be recited Thursday, April 1, 2004, 5:00 p.m., at French
Mortuary, Lomas Blvd. Chapel, 10500 Lomas Blvd. NE, with the
Marianites reciting. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated Friday,
April 2, 2004, 8:30 a.m., at Our Lady of the Annunciation Catholic
Church, Claremont and Vermont St. NE, with Father Ronald Bruckner,
Celebrant. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be
made to the Lovelace Hospice, 5403 Gibson Blvd. SE, Albuquerque, NM
87108 or Casa Angelica 5629 Isleta Blvd SW, Albuquerque, NM 87105.
French Mortuary 10500 Lomas Blvd. NE 275-3500
Donald
Cline, 83, a resident of Albuquerque since 1942, passed away on
Sunday, March 28, 2004. He was born in Columbus, Ohio on November
9th, 1920, the youngest of seven children. As a teenager, he
developed a serious lung condition and, after a number of years of
unsuccessful treatment, his doctors told him that his only hope was
to move to a drier climate. He left his family and friends back home
and, having never seen so much as a picture postcard of Albuquerque,
arrived here by train on his 22nd birthday. He checked into the YMCA
across the street from the old Alvarado train station and started
his new life. This new life turned out to be a series of fortunate
circumstances, not the least of which was overcoming his lung
condition. He eventually obtained employment at Stromberg's, a local
men's clothing store. As he said many times, his most fortunate
circumstance occurred in 1946 when he was introduced to his future
wife, Dorothy Childers, by a mutual friend. They married September
29, 1947. He remained with Stromberg's for over thirty years where
he retired as vice-president of the corporation. He was elected
president of the Winrock Merchant's Association several times and
was also on the board of directors of the Albuquerque Chamber of
Commerce and Better Business Bureau and was a member of the 20/30
Club. He gave many of Albuquerque's current business leaders their
first jobs and instilled in them the work ethic that had served him
so well. While his tenure at Stromberg's allowed him to indulge his
passion for the retail business and fine men's clothing, he was also
equally passionate about American luxury automobiles. His close
friends will truly understand the following line; He has owned over
75 cars and there was never a speck of dust on any of them. Through
Stromberg's, his love of cars and his gregarious nature, he
developed literally hundreds of friends, every one of whom would
agree that he was genuinely thoughtful and caring and a man of
unrivaled honesty, integrity, generosity and humor. He will be
sorely missed by all. He is survived by his wife of 56 years,
Dorothy, two sons, John and Jeffrey, and two granddaughters, Lindsey
and Jamie Cline, all residents of Albuquerque. A Memorial Rosary
will be recited Thursday, April 1, 2004, 5:00 p.m., at French
Mortuary, Lomas Blvd. Chapel, 10500 Lomas Blvd. NE, with the
Marianites reciting. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated Friday,
April 2, 2004, 8:30 a.m., at Our Lady of the Annunciation Catholic
Church, Claremont and Vermont St. NE, with Father Ronald Bruckner,
Celebrant. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be
made to the Lovelace Hospice, 5403 Gibson Blvd. SE, Albuquerque, NM
87108 or Casa Angelica 5629 Isleta Blvd SW, Albuquerque, NM 87105.
French Mortuary 10500 Lomas Blvd. NE 275-3500
