Donna Cassano

Donna was a fierce advocate for the causes she believed in, from animal rescue to endangered species recovery to protecting wild places and more. I mostly saw her with a smile on her face, but she did not shy away from speaking out in anger when she recognized injustice in the world. She had so much love in her heart for people and animals alike, and that love could burn like fire when harm was being done to the people, places, and animals she cared so much about. She was tireless in fighting for what she believed in, a warrior who exemplified both compassion and justice. Donna was also a wealth of knowledge. While she was always so modest, she could tell you the stories of wolves, could pull up historical data with a snap of her fingers, and could cut to the heart of an issue with ease. In her own words, she once told me that she did this work because she wanted to create awareness and educate the public about the challenges that Mexican wolves face and to empower people to take action to ensure that this unique subspecies may recover and thrive. She lived that mission every day, and I admired Donna for her mind as much as for her heart. I had the honor of working with Donna both when I was a volunteer and when I joined the Lobos of the Southwest staff. In both roles, Donna inspired and encouraged me. When times were tough, we could support and comfort each other. We laughed and cried together. And throughout it all, Donna always made me feel accepted for who I am. I hope I did the same for her. Donna was one of those people who will forever leave an imprint in my life. Her smile, spirit, knowledge, and passion will live on in the small ways in which I can carry on our shared work. But I'm not the only one carrying on our work. With each person who knew Donna, each person that continues the fight, Donna's legacy grows. There will be dogs and cats with forever homes because of her work and her example. There will be wolves that roam free because of her support. There will be wild places that will be protected because she inspired people to care. You made a difference, Donna, for me and for so many others. Thank you for being one of the bravest people I know and the kind of person I strive to be. I'm going to miss you, but I'm so grateful for the time we shared.