Make Sure They Know, Just How Much
by Jordan Hendler, WMABA Executive Director
When someone special departs the worldly plane, it’s a staggering reminder that we need to tell those we care about just how much they matter.
A longtime WMABA champion, and industry legend, left us this month. To say Don Beaver made a difference in my life is a gross understatement. To say I deeply regret not telling him often just how much, falls just the same.
We will share with you in the next issue just how much of a mark Don made in our industry, but right now, I want to share with you the first thought I had when faced with the loss of someone so wonderful: I didn’t tell him often enough about the impacts he’d made on me.
When I first started with WMABA, I was trying to find my way and figure out how to make a difference for our repair community. Early on, Don was a voice I appreciated. He would be passionate about the issues, but still grounded, and he’d bring levity to every situation. His contributions to the association, and to our Board of Directors, were from a place of dedication and passion. He cared deeply for our community, and the shops trying to make their own difference. If you cut him, he’d bleed bodyshop.
I miss him, and I had every chance to reach out. I got busy, and distracted by the daily grind, and let it go too long. There are so many people I would love to catch up with on the regular, but it’s so hard to make the time. There’s only excuses left when we don’t go the extra mile for those who matter. And, believe me, Don matters.
It’s something I don’t want to feel again, and I don’t want others to feel this way, either. While I know Don would laugh it off or tell me he understands how much I have on my plate, it still doesn’t replace being able to hear it with my own ears, or even get it in a text. I missed that, and I miss him greatly.
We all have people in our lives who make an impact. They may be the quiet one who’s there to give you the support or kindness in small ways. They may be the boisterous one, who pushes you out of a slump and cheers you up, giving you the gumption to push through a tough time. It could be a friend, a family member or a work colleague, but these important folks in our lives need to know they have a special place within our lives, and that they are appreciated.
I hope, in Don’s amazing memories, I do better to tell all those who are in my orbit how valued they are to me. More than any win we could claim, those who are next to us in all the struggles are what make this life meaningful. I’m cutting it off here, because I have more people to send my appreciation to. It’s what Don would want me to do, so how could I not?!
You go do the same. Let this be a reminder that the things are never more important than the people. Share with them the sentiments skipped over along the way.
Want more? Check out the September 2025 issue of Hammer & Dolly!