Our Executive Officer, Don Hank got his first job at the age of 10 years old when he had the New York Daily News newspaper route delivering to homes in Cranford New Jersey where he was raised and grew up. He delivered News papers for two years and then landed a job at the Blue Room, the town’s favorite confectionery and luncheonette where he was a soda jerk for several years in his teens. He then landed a job at Commuters Tap Room also in Cranford New Jersey stocking beer and soda coolers.
He worked there for a couple of years while going to High School and he joined the Navy Reserves NRTC Elizabeth New Jersey for 6 years, from 1970 to 1976 as Fireman rating then Machinist rating. He attended reserve training once a month and then was sent to Naval Base Great Lakes Illinois from August 23, 1970 to September 05, 1970 for two weeks active duty and from April 4, 1971 to April 17, 1971 for two weeks active duty on the USS Robert K Huntington (DD-781) out of Bayonne New Jersey.
Following that he was sent for two years active duty to US Naval Station Brooklyn New York where he was then assigned to the USS Compass Island (AG-153) out of Brooklyn New York. After a stint in the engine room he went mess cooking since the cooks needed more help. At that time he passed his exam and changed his rate to Culinary Specialist.
After his tour on the Compass Island the Seabees had jurisdiction over him and he was sent for training at MCB-13 in Gulfport Mississippi from January 26, 1974 to February 8, 1974 and did two weeks active duty with RNMCB-13 at Camp Smith New York in 1975.
He landed a Machinist job in Cranford New Jersey for Pem Machine and Tool Co for 5 years from 1973 to 1979 and then landed a job at Exxon Chemical in Linden New Jersey for 9 years from 1979 to 1988 as Storekeeper for a 4000 Item Stockroom.
He then found Paradise in Dunedin Florida and landed a job with Stamas Yacht’s from 1988 to 1989 as storekeeper, and in 1989 he landed a job as the Shipping Coordinator for Coca Cola.
In 1997 he started his own business by opening a Mini Donut stand called the Donut Stop at the Wagon Wheel Flee Market in Pinellas Park Florida from 1997 to 1999. During that time he also added a Good Earth Produce stand and took over the Vitamin Store for a friend.
He then landed a job for BayCare Medical Imaging as Imaging Coordinator from 1989 to 2020. After that he retired and now he works part time for Home Depot in Holiday Florida.