Remembering Donald C. Truesdale
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Donald C. Truesdale, CPO, founder of East Carolina Brace & Limb Co., died in March at the age of 71.
Born and raised on Sullivan’s Island, S.C., he began work in an O&P facility in Charleston, S.C. In 1968, he moved his family to New Bern, N.C. where he established East Carolina Brace & Limb Co. Inc. Truesdale was certified in orthotics and prosthetics and devoted more than 34 years to the profession.
He was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award in Orthotics and Prosthetics for being a pioneer in developing the field in North Carolina. Truesdale was a long-standing member of American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics, American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association, and the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists.
He was instrumental in training three sons and several apprentices in the field, all of whom have followed him in establishing successful O&P businesses. East Carolina Brace & Limb Co. Inc. is still in business today and now has seven offices located in eastern North Carolina.
Truesdale is survived by his wife, Lynne; five sons, Rollin, Donald, Jr., Mikhail, Scott, Stephen; two daughters, Cynthia and Stephanie; fourteen grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Shriners Hospital Hosts First Volley Clinic in Philadelphia
Shriners Hospital for Children in Philadelphia and the Orthotic & Prosthetic Assistance Fund Inc. (OPAF) hosted a First Volley Adaptive Tennis Clinic for Shriners O&P patients on Saturday, May 5 at the Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis Center. Eleven children, both amputees and children with cerebral palsy, along with support staff from the tennis center, volunteers, First Volley veterans and a USTA master teaching pro were put through their paces with tennis drills and showed what kind of tennis players they can be.
The clinic, lead by First Volley’s director of tennis, Darren Kindred, and assisted by USTA master teaching pro, Kirk Anderson and support staff from the Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis Center gave the Shriners children, ages 6 to 14 years old individual attention and schooling in forehand, backhand, volleys and serves. They moved across the court and in some cases hit them “out of the park� to help boost confidence and build esteem. More than 25 attendees and volunteers were on hand to cheer them on.
First Volley was sponsored by Shriners Hospital for Children Philadelphia.
“We are so pleased with OPAF and First Volley,� said Jeff Eichhorn, CPO, director of orthotics and prosthetics for Shriners Hospital Philadelphia. “We can envision one or two First Volley clinics a year for our patients. The facilities at Arthur Ashe were great.�
Many of the children played again on May 19 when OPAF hosted a First Volley clinic at the Bucks County Racquet Club in Washington Crossing, Pa.
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