When Doris Einstein Siegel, a retired lighting design professor at UCLA, first moved to Fresno from Los Angeles, she and her husband Abraham knew no one except for their daughter Deborah Moore and their granddaughter, Ellie. That is, until one day, Doris happened to go to a simulcast of an opera at Edwards Theater and met Don Larson, a retired history instructor from Fresno City College. Don and Doris hit it off right away and soon they began saving a seat for each other at various concerts and simulcasts.

Over the years they became good friends and after Doris' husband died, Don was a great support to her. The two became a fixture at cultural arts events around town and rarely missed a performance whether it was the Lorenz Keyboard Concert series, the Fresno Philharmonic or an opera.

Doris was a big supporter of all the arts but she was also intrigued by the Donald G. Larson Collection on International Expositions and Fairs that Don donated to the Henry Madden Library in the 1970s. Tammy Lau, the Head of Special Collections at the Madden Library, remembers seeing them both at many library events. "Both such vibrant, energetic and gracious people," Tammy says.

It was a sad day indeed when Don heard the news that Doris had passed away on November 2, 2017. He spoke at her funeral and honors her memory with fond reminiscences. Tammy remembers Doris as "a wonderful person all the way through. She had true dignity and grace. She will be missed."

Doris' final tribute to Don and their friendship came in the form of a handwritten card from Doris where she said, "In gratitude for your warm and steadfast friendship, and for making my life in Fresno so pleasant and stimulating. With my love, Doris." He received it from her daughter Deborah six months after Doris passed away. Enclosed with the card was a generous check made out to the Donald G. Larson collection. Doris wanted to make a lasting contribution to the collection that bears Don's name so the funds will go to the Don Larson World's Fair Collection Endowment.