Watson, former city treasurer, dead at 70

Eron Ben-Yehuda

Former city treasurer and community activist Donald L. Watson died Sept.

11 from heart complications at his Huntington Beach home. He was 70.

“There were a lot of people that he touched in the city and in the

community,” said a tearful Shari Freidenrich, the city’s current

treasurer.

Freidenrich, who replaced Watson after he retired in 1995, recalls how

generously he gave of himself.

“He was a great mentor to me when I came in,” she said. “He was always

willing to help.”

That spirit carried over to his work for the Huntington Beach Community

Clinic, where he served as chairman of the board, said Beverley Watson,

his wife of 48 years. He also sat on the board of Pacific Liberty Bank,

she said.

His facility with numbers made him a natural treasurer, his wife said.

“He was a born finance man,” she said.

Mayor Peter Green, a good friend of Watson, chose him as his finance

director during a recent campaign, he said.

“I always turned to him for very sound advice,” he said. “As a friend, I

could trust him with anything.”

After working 27 years as an IBM executive, Watson was appointed city

treasurer in 1987. He was elected in 1988 and reelected in 1992.

Although he had heart trouble, doctors had given Watson permission to

attend his daughter Patricia’s wedding in Fresno later this month, his

wife said.

“We were going to get his tux measured,” she said.

Watson is survived by his mother, Inez, 90; his wife Beverley, 70; four

children; and four grandchildren.

The public is invited to attend a chapel service 1 p.m. today at

Westminster Memorial Park & Mortuary, 14801 Beach Blvd., Westminster.