Donald Feddersen, Venture Capitalist, 70
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Donald Feddersen, of Wellesley, Massachusetts, died February 24, 2005,
of leukemia, at the age of 70.
Donald William Feddersen, better known as "Don," was a successful
entrepreneur and venture capitalist, a man known for both confidence
and humility. "When Don walked into a room, you knew he was 'the man,'"
Greg Caldicott, the vice president of sales at Xformx Inc. (a company
Mr. Feddersen invested in), said in a statement. "Even still, he was
always humble, gracious, and sincere."
He was raised in Homewood, Illinois, and graduated from Purdue
University with a degree in mechanical engineering. He later received
his MBA from the University of Chicago [Illinois].
Mr. Feddersen served as a pilot and research development officer in the
Air Force before he began a distinguished career, during he which he
held prominent positions in several software and computer companies.
He was president and CEO of Applicon Inc., which he helped grow from a
private start-up into a multimillion-dollar public company. (Applicon
was bought by Schlumberger Ltd. in 1981; Mr. Feddersen continued to run
Applicon as a division of Schlumberger until 1984.)
He was a general partner at Charles River Ventures and a venture
partner and private investor at Bessemer Venture Partners in Wellesley,
Massachusetts.
Mr. Feddersen remained active in Purdue University, where he was
awarded an honorary doctor of engineering for his leadership, support,
and numerous contributions to the field. He also served on the boards
of several start-up companies and was a mentor to many young
executives.
"When I needed a push, Don pushed me," Caldicott said, "When I had
doubts, above all else, Don's faith in me and his loyalty drove me to
carry on."
Mr. Feddersen leaves his wife, Catherine (Chuday); a daughter, Kimberly
Watkins of South Hamilton, Massachusetts; three sons, John of Medway,
Massachusetts, Brett of Champaign, Illinois, and Daniel of
Moultonborough, New Hampshire; two sisters, Ruth Sievers of Frankfurt,
Illinois, and Dorothy Lively of Chicago Heights, Illinois; a brother,
David of Coventry, Connecticut; and nine grandchildren.
Boston Globe
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