Don Noel is retired from a prize-winning career in television and newspaper journalism that earned him a place in Who’s Who in America. He and his late wife, Elizabeth Brad Noel, lived for a half century in an African-American and Jamaican neighborhood in Hartford, CT, and were deeply involved as volunteers addressing urban issues for four decades; he is former chair of the ACLU of Connecticut. They moved to the Seabury retirement community in nearby Bloomfield in 2016, still near their daughter, Emily, her husband, Tim, and their grandson, “TJ,” now a senior at Yale. Brad Noel died of complications of Alzheimer’s in January 2019. Her obituary can be read ==>here.
Don told the story of their building and managing a Jamaican vacation rental home in his Near A Far Sea. His first attempt at a novel, Love’s Hurricanes, has been honed in workshops and mentoring as he took a Master of Fine Arts degree from Fairfield University — but is still looking for a publisher.
He has published more than 50 short stories, all of which can be read at this website. For an overview of those published in book-length anthologies, go ==>here
For details on his Marquis Who’s Who Lifetime Achievement Award, go ==>here
For details on his Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives Award, go ==>here
For details on his Marquis Who’s Who Humanitarian Award, go ==>here
and here
This website was built on a custom WordPress theme for Don by Jeanne Leblanc.
Hello Don,
I ran across your book, Near A Far Sea: A Jamaican Odyssey, and ordered it; also, I read your Chapter One and I look forward to reading your entire odyssey.
I am an ex-pat Jamaican, now US citizen, who returned to my island homeland last month to bury my mother in the land she loved. I plan to visit Treasure Beach next May and wondered exactly where your property was located. I don’t know the area well (I lived in Kingston until 1969), so would like to learn more before I venture out there.
Many thanks,
Cecelia
Don, I was reflecting on some of my life’s greatest travels, and, of course, my trips to Hikaru are atop that list. I googled for Hikaru and you, and I was pleasantly surprised to find your dononoel.com. And I was even more pleasantly surprised to discover Near a Far Sea. I’ve ordered a couple of copies, and I will wait anxiously for them! Happy New Year!
Hello Don, My name is Cassius Shearer… I grew up in CT, and have been a fan during your News days. A product of Weaver High School and was a very good friend of your daughter Emily. We have worked many Summers for Upwards Bound at Loomis Chaffee. The very best to you and your family and please pass along my contact [email protected]
Thanks; I’ve passed it on to Emily
Hi Don, I’m just catching up with this site after seeing your comment on NaCCRA. So, sorry to hear about Brad’s passing. We’re happy to see that we have a lot o your short stories to read and we’ll look forward to it.