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Times-Picayune article,
June 30, 2005
"I met Donnie sometime in the late 80s or early 90s. I remember that I started running into him at the races and then would see him at Franco’s after the races, and we started sharing race stories. That’s how I first got to know Donnie. Fortunately, as the years passed, I came to know Donnie much more intimately. . . . [MORE
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| THANKS |
| On behalf of Donnie, Tonya and Logan, we thank you
from the bottom of our hearts for visiting this site and for your assistance to
the Jarrell family in their time of need. |
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WELCOME TO THE DONNIE JARRELL FOUNDATION.
This site was created by several of the countless friends of Donnie Jarrell, who was affectionately called "Donzaroo." Donnie was a special education teacher in the St. Tammany Parish School System and a fitness instructor at Franco's Athletic Club, one of the premier fitness clubs in the United States. But Donzaroo was much more than that: he was been a dear friend, mentor, encourager, and a voice that said "anything is possible with determination and effort" for many of those who were fortunate enough to be around him.
In late March, 2003, Donnie was diagnosed with the most aggressive form of Lou Gehrig's disease. It has no known cure at present although research continues. This community was in shock over Donnie’s diagnosis and rallied around Donnie and his family. Donnie beat the odds by surviving for over 27 months after his diagnosis. He is now in the daily prayers of the people of this community, who are praying for his family since his passing.
At the request of Donnie and Tonya, the Donnie Jarrell Fund Committee established the Donnie Jarrell Foundation, a not-for-profit corporation whose goal is to assist other ALS victims and families with children with autism and other sensory deficit disorders, such as those whom Donnie taught in school. [MORE . . .]
Donnie Jarrell and daughter
Logan
LOU GEHRIG'S
DISEASE
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
("ALS"), is an almost always fatal disease made famous after the New York
Yankee's baseball player, Lou Gehrig, was diagnosed with the condition in 1939
at the age of 38 . . .
[MORE . . .] |
 Donnie, Tonya and Logan
Husband, father, son, coach, mentor, triathlete, teacher and friend
Wife, Tonya Johnson Jarrell; daughter, Logan Alana Jarrell; mother, Vernie Gitz; brothers, Kevin Jarrell, Alfred Gitz and Brian Gitz; sisters, Vicki Jarrell and Treena Shaw; mother- and father-in-law, Gaytha and R.D. Johnson; brother-in-law, Royce Johnson; grandmother-in-law, Ethyl James; numerous cousins and other relatives, a host of friends and co-workers. |
Tour de Donzaroo Photos
Donnie and Tonya
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