Donna Chen was ‘Thoughtful, Caring’
Friends and family of Donna Chen placed a roadside memorial to remember the Sarasota resident's life. She was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver Saturday.
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Friends and relatives of Donna Chen watched Sunday afternoon as the Sarasota County Fire Department cleaned up the scene of an accident that claimed Chen’s life Saturday, ready to place flowers to remember her.
Chen’s nephew Mitchell MacPhail 18, held the bouquet ready to start the roadside memorial across from St. Michael's Archangel Catholic Church. MacPhail told Patch that it’s shocking to know that his aunt passed away so suddenly.
“She loved to take care of people,” he said.
(To find out what happened to Chen's dog Barney, read "Kayaker Finds DUI Victim's Dog.")
Chen's routine was to jog down that stretch of Midnight Pass Road, which she was doing right before Blake Talman, struck her Saturday afternoon, according to police, who say the 22-year-old Bradenton man was intoxicated while driving.
“I think the whole family is awaiting his trial to see what happens to him,” MacPhail said. “We hope he gets what he deserves.”
Talman is charged with DUI manslaughter, numerous property damage charges and leaving the scene of another accident just prior to hitting Chen with his car, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Talman drove away, after striking Chen and did not stop until his vehicle hit another car, investigators said.
Chen leaves behind many friends. A 30-year Sarasota resident, she had deep ties in the community. Chen was a registered nurse and had worked at Venice Memorial Hospital, MacPhail said. Her husband, Wellington, is a recently retired physician.
She kept her license although she had stopped actively practicing, MacPhail said. Her focus was family life.
She maintained an active, healthy lifestyle. She lovingly raised her children, William, Tiffany and Andrew Chen, MacPhail said.
William is studying at Duke University, while Tiffany attends Pine View School — a gifted and talented school — and was also recently accepted to Duke, MacPhail said.
"I think the main focus wasn't the name of the school or the prestige with it. For her, it was what fit her kids," he said, "It's what they both ended up liking and she made sure they were happy with what they were choosing."
MacPhail is close to the Chens as his cousins; they all grew up in Sarasota. The families would go downtown to watch Tiffany perform a ballet recital, or just get together for some quality family time, he said.
MacPhail would take trips with her to Utah to ski, to New York and other destinations to shop and for him to “be lazy.”
"At the last minute she had offered to fly me out to Salt Lake City, which I imagine couldn't be cheap," he said.
Another woman, who declined to give her name, stood with MacPhail remembering Chen.
“She was the most thoughtful, caring person around,” she said.
“She always told her children to be careful,” she added.
Chen loved her family as well as her animals and dogs, the woman said.
Chen was apparently walking her dog Barney, and was later found by a kayaker fishing, when the dog swam up to him. The kayaker shot this YouTube video of him fishing and caught the moment Barney came to him (see video above).
According to a Sarasota Yacht Club newsletter from June 2010, Chen and her husband Dr. Wellington Chen were members of the club and had lived on Siesta Key for 15 years and in Sarasota for 30 years.
Wellington Chen was the former emergency medicine director of Venice Hospital and Doctors Hospital of Sarasota and is retired from actively practicing medicine.
The family takes comfort she wasn't alone at the time of her death, MacPhail said.
"One of her New Years resolutions was to start going to church more, and she started going with my grandparents," he said. "She really liked it."
This article has been updated and information about the priest was removed after a witness contacted Patch about the incident. The witness wishes to remain anonymous.
In This article
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St Michael the Archangel
5394 Midnight Pass Rd, Sarasota, FL -
Sarasota Yacht Club
1100 John Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, FL -
kathy polen
6:02 pm on Sunday, January 8, 2012
I am so saddened by Donna's death. What a tragedy. Donna was always so friendly and loved her children so much. You would always see her with a smile and touching her childrens lives in such loving ways. I pray God gives them comfort and the memories her family shared will be a comfort to them in time to come.
emanuelmulkey
2:44 am on Monday, January 9, 2012
Shop around for "clearance auto" online. Instead of just renewing, study the fine print of your policy to see if its terms -- or your situation -- have changed. Another company might have better rates, but you won't know unless you shop.
KC
10:38 am on Monday, January 9, 2012
The article fills your eyes with tears and chokes you up thinking about this tragedy. Each day is a gift.
sad
10:46 am on Monday, January 9, 2012
Very sad this all happened. My heart goes out to her family and prayers. But the truely sad thing is she shouldn't have died. Blake Talman was allowed to leave Siesta Key Drunk but the police, who seen him drinking just moments beforehand, where one of the friends got arrested for drunk disorderly.
Jenny
4:39 pm on Monday, January 9, 2012
What a horrible tragedy. I pray God comforts her family, friends and her animals. They all need our prayers.
Let this be a lesson for the rest of us. Life is very short and can end in the blink of an eye. Live each day like it is your last.
Pat Mcloughlin
5:58 pm on Monday, January 9, 2012
It is a sheer MIRACLE that sharks weren't around to cause more trouble. That's a very lucky dog. I'm so glad someone found him & brought him back to shore.
Kathy Mattucci
7:37 pm on Monday, January 9, 2012
My heartfelt sympathy and prayers to the family...As a Vizsla Owner and Breeder from PA who has spent the past 14 Novembers with my spouse in Siesta Key this story really hit home.While I hug my Vizslas and Family members I will reflect on how precious life is...
Carolyn Eipper
6:43 pm on Tuesday, January 10, 2012
My family and I are horrified and saddened by this senseless tragedy. Because a few idiots wanted to go have "a day of fun", so many people's lives have been changed forever. Our thoughts and prayers are with Dr Chen and their children.
Frank
8:29 pm on Tuesday, January 10, 2012
The ABC video showed Talman crying and stating his sorrow! He is not at all sorry for this family but only that he got caught! My father was killed by a drunk driver 20+ yrs. ago and I have no pity on this waste of a person! Look at the good this woman and family have done in this world and now this grief they are experiencing will be very difficult to ever subside. Time will help but time does not heal!
Chrissy
11:41 pm on Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Thoughts and prayers to the Chen family and the other families close. This is a horrible tragedy that should have never occurred. May justice be served and the judicial system put Talman away forever. We should all hug our loved ones a little closer and realize nothing in life is guaranteed and it could be taken in a blink. Thoughts And Prayers.
Jim Baggins
9:21 am on Wednesday, January 11, 2012
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001059294900&sk=wall
Good ol' Blakey
Kristin Schomer Bentz
1:38 pm on Wednesday, January 11, 2012
I'm a jogger, trauma nurse, and dog lover. This story is just so very sad. The selfish people in this world who drink and drive and have such little respect for life. I hope that Sarasota comes down hard on this kid. Peace to the Chen family, and to Barney.
kelly
10:00 am on Friday, January 13, 2012
My brother was suddlenly killed in 1983 by a drunk driver when he crossed the yellow line and hit my brother head on. Back then, the consequences for driving drunk were minimal at best. I can only hope that the family and friends of Donna Chen find peace in the memories they have had with her. I hope this is a wake up call for everyone out there that gets behind the wheel and drives while drinking because as someone already said...lives are changed forever. And bless little Barney's heart...Donna was watching over him and kept him safe <3
Mary Rodgers
10:44 pm on Tuesday, January 17, 2012
I am honored to have known Donna and feel priveledged to have been touched by such a sweet and generous spirit. Her words are always on my mind " Always leave a place better because you were there" I think of you all the time Donna and will know you when I see you in heaven, You will be the one with the biggest wings... Thank -you my sweet friend