Sinn, Donald Frederick (1920-2016)
Date Updated
8-8-2019
Department
Recreation & Leisure Studies
Academic Rank
Professor Emeritus
Year Retired from SJSU
1984
Educational Background
University of California, Berkeley, 1963-65 EdD
University of California, Davis, 1964
San Jose State University, 1964‑65
University of Michigan, 1957-60
Michigan State, 1957-60
Boston University, 1953-56
New York University, 1950-52
University of Pittsburgh, 1950- 52
Springfield College, 1946-47 MS, high honors
Kent State, 1938-42 BS
Teaching Experience
SJSU, Dept of Recreation & Leisure Studies, 1963-1984
University of New Hampshire, guest lecturer
Michigan State University, guest lecturer
Boston University, guest lecturer
Administrative and Professional Experience
Donald F. Sinn & Associates, CEO, 20+ years
Sports & Recreation Accidents consultant, cases with 95 law firms, 30+ years
Recreation & Park Board, Flint, MI, Superintendent, 6 years
Dept. of Recreation & Parks, Concord, NH, Director, 4 years
Dept. of Parks & Recreation, Newport, KY, Superintendent, 2 years
Sarah Heinz House, Pittsburgh, PA, Physical Director, 3 years
US Air Force, Physical training specialist
US Army Counter Intelligence Corps, World War II, Okinawan Campaign, G-2, 1st Marine Division, Special Agent/CO
US Army Counter Intelligence Corps, Korea, 7th Infantry Division, CO, CIC Detachment, Special Agent/CO
Selected Publications
Numerous articles and papers on recreation safety, risk management for:
National Recreation & Park Association,
American Institute of Park Executives,
California Park & Recreation Society
“Loss of Park Lands & Waters,” Readers Digest
The Loss of Park and Recreation Lands, National Recreation & Park Assn., Arlington, VA.
Editorial Board, Swimming Pools: A Guide to Their Planning, Design, & Operation.
More than 50 consultant studies on park and recreation planning & management.
Files
Personal Commentary
Military Service: World War 11‑‑Commissioned Officer, U.S. Army Air Corps and U.S. Air Force; Special Agent, U.S. Army Counter Intelligence Corps. Four years service; 17 months overseas, South Pacific; Commanding Officer, CIC, with G‑2, 1st Marine Division, Okinawa; Combat Citation from Commanding General del Valle. Captain, Military Intelligence; Korean War‑‑17 months. Retired Captain, US Army Military Intelligence.
Appointed member of Return to Okinawa Commemoration Committee, First Marine Division Association (5 members in U.S.) 1994 to plan the 50th Anniversary of Okinawa Campaign‑‑June 1995.
Represented First Marine Division Assn; gave Memorial Address, Camp Butler Marine Base, Okinawa, June 22, 1995 in honor of Shun Castle Flag‑Raising (note: was in charge of the Shun Castle Flag‑Raising May 31, 1945; Flag preserved in Marine Corps Historical Center, Washington, D.C.).
Recreation‑Park Planning/Management Consultant and Project Director at all levels of U.S. Government and private agencies; also overseas: Hawaii, Guam, Japan, Korea and Africa.
Advisor/consultant to 90 + law firms in 10 states and 300 assignments re sports and recreation accidents covering 30 years.
Member of volunteer band (Troubadours) playing pro bono at 14 + nursing homes, convalescent hospitals and retirement centers (75‑100 performances per year) for past 5 years. Playing guitar, banjo and harmonica.
Volunteer consultant to VITA (Volunteers in Technical Assistance) with projects in South Dakota Indian Reservations; Ivory Coast, Africa; Madagascar (Park Management Consultant to Madagascar government re national park policies and safety/risk management, 1996‑‑one month).
Hobbies/Interests varied: Painting; photography; woodworking; camping; music; writing; retired wrestling official (22 years).
Date Completed:11/96
Active Athlete most of my life
High school
Earned letters in 4 sports
Elected to Jackson Milton (Ohio) Hall of Fame
College
Kent State University, wrestling, 2 times interstate champion runner-up
Military
Battle of Okinawa, awarded combat citation from Major General Pedro del Valle, Commanding General, 1st Marine Division, 1945
Age 85 Green Mt College, Vermont, Senior Olympian, won 6 gold medals
Age 92 Founder/President Emeritus, Sun City Guitar “Class” (club)
Date Completed:4/30/12
Adapted from: Biographies of Retired Faculty San Jose State University 1997: A Project of the Emeritus Faculty Association of San Jose State University. San Jose, CA: The University, 1997.