“Donovan and I met when he came to an early Fox Theatre Restoration committee meeting. We instantly became fast friends, and he supported the long journey from an abandoned theatre to our grand reopening in a number of ways. The Fox Theater, the Rialto, the streetcar, a lot of those things had a lot of high profile people involved. And then there’s the stuff that happened behind the scenes and Don was a big part of that.”

Herb Stratford, Historic Theater Consultant who restored the historic Fox Theater Tucson

“I first met Don when my wife and I bought the decrepit Rialto block in 2002, long before the street car was even a glimmer in anyone’s eye and Downtown’s naysayers were legion. He was always a visionary, a genuinely righteous person, a true believer, intelligent and good-humored, a man of integrity. During my attempts to make things happen Downtown—and the mighty struggles entwined

with those aspirations—Don was always there as a stalwart supporter, confidant, and friend.”

Doug Biggers, Former Executive Director & Founder at The Rialto Theater, Tucson, Arizona

“I met Donovan over 23 years ago when he and I helped start up the Tucson Downtown Alliance.  His leadership during these early years was invaluable to the success downtown Tucson is today.  His encyclopedia knowledge of Tucson’s downtown history was amazing.  He went out of his way countless times to help anyone who needed his expertise and guidance.  He did so without need for recognition.  He did so because he was a good person with a good soul. Over the last 20 years, there are many behind the scenes heroes, who have help turn Downtown Tucson around.  Don was one of those heroes, one of the best!  I am proud to have known him and call him my friend.”

Michael Crawford, Attorney

“In 2006, as a young artist, Donovan Durband supported a vision I had to invite youth from neighborhoods surrounding Downtown and artists living and working Downtown to Jacome plaza to make giant chalk murals on the sidewalk in an ephemeral public art festival.

We did this work together for 4 years every last weekend in April (rain or 100 degrees plus) when you could still find a tumbleweed rolling across the greyhound bus station at the intersection of Congress and Broadway.

Donovan had big vision for Downtown Tucson and the patience and heart to trust others and civic processes to see many of those visions come to fruition.

I am eternally grateful to him. Those years represent some of my most cherished memories in Tucson and NONE of it would have happened without the faith and leadership of Donovan Durband.”

Leia Maahs, Managing Director at Southwest Folklife Alliance

“I hired Donovan in 2009because of his caring and passion for downtown. Even when others had given up on downtown revitalization, Donovan passionately kept at it. This is why downtown Tucson is buzzing these days, why more than a billion dollars has been invested in downtown. Back in 2008, 2009, you wouldn’t walk downtown, it was unsafe, it was dirty, there was no activity. It’s a completely different situation right now and much of that is because of Donovan’s advocacy when a lot of us had given up on downtown.”

Steve Kozacik, Ward 6 Councilman

“Donovan brought a fierce passion to his work that was filled with a wealth of knowledge and unwavering pursuit to support Downtown Tucson. Donovan was dedicated to helping local businesses and growing Tucson as a world-class event destination.”

“Donovan served as Founder & Vice President of Festivals & Events Association of Tucson & Southern Arizona where he was instrumental in getting our regionrecognized as an IFEA World Festival and Events City.”

Mia Schnaible, Director of Marketing + Development at Arizona International Film Festival

Fletcher McCusker, CEO of Rio Nuevo