‘Larger than life’ Fairview Park CEO Avery remembered for ‘service, leadership and compassion’

Don Avery was larger than life.

Comments like this and more were how friends and officials in the community described Avery, president and CEO of Fairview Park Hospital, after he passed away during surgery Thursday in an out-of-town hospital. He was 68.

“I know he was a true believer and he’s walking the streets of glory right now,” said Jeff Bruton, vice president of human resources who has been at Fairview Park Hospital for 23 years. “Though all of this is hard to comprehend, (Avery) was a firm believer. His favorite verse was 1 Thessalonians 5:11 about being an encourager. He was never scared to share his faith with anybody.”

Avery had worked in hospital executive leadership positions in Jacksonville, Florida, Valdosta and Columbus before moving to Dublin to become the president/CEO of Fairview Park Hospital 17 years ago. 

“Don was an inspirational leader,” Bruton said. “He was larger than life. You could tell that things were going to change when he got here and that things were going to be better. One of my favorite things that he said, maybe in the first meeting that he had, was we were not going to be a ‘no’ leadership team.”

Avery admitted to them that there may be some “ifs,” but they were not going to be saying “no” as a leadership team. 

“He was so positive about everything,” Bruton said. “We were going to be positive with all of our interactions with our staff, physician group and with our patients and our visitors. From that very first meeting, I knew this was the guy that I wanted to work with and work for, and I did for 17 years. 

“Without a doubt, our hospital is where it is because of him,” he added. “He changed the culture from day one.” 

Dr. Don Nelson has been at Fairview for 37 years. He called Avery an amazing leader who cared for everybody who walked into the hospital. 

“He embraced our community,” Nelson said. “His devotion was not to the people he worked for. His devotion was to Dublin and the people of Dublin, and all he did was with them in mind. One of the biggest things he taught the people who worked here was to listen to people and be kind and treat people the way they should be treated. I’ve had the opportunity of working with really a lot of good CEOs, but Don was very special.” 

The biggest change that Avery brought was the atmosphere.

“I see patients all of the time in my job at rehab coming from other hospitals,” Nelson said. “Everybody has the same comment on how much better they are treated at Fairview Park than they are at other hospitals. That’s universal. He took great pride in that as he should have.” 

Lindsay Black, who worked as the director of marketing and communications at FPH for seven years, said Avery did everything at a high standard. 

“The one thing I can say about Don is he always made everybody feel like a somebody,” Black said. “When he talked to you, he connected with you, he encouraged you and challenged you in a positive way to be a part of something bigger than yourself in your community and church.”

Nelson recalled how Avery would talk to all of the employees from doctors to those working in housekeeping, constantly asking how their families were doing. He would see people come in from the community and have the same conversation with them.

“He was just a truly good person,” Nelson said. “Even as he was planning for his retirement, his plans were to hang around Dublin and to help recruit physicians to this area, even if he did it as a non-paid consultant. He wanted to see Dublin continue to grow and continue to develop. He was proud of all aspects of the growth in Dublin, not just the hospital and medical community but Dublin itself.” 

That was felt by leaders in the community who knew Avery.

“I think everybody was shocked to hear about his untimely passing,” said Dublin Mayor Joshua Kight. “He was not just a leader of one of our largest economic centers in Dublin at Fairview Park Hospital, but a leader in our community. He volunteered time in many different organizations. Most recently he was on the chamber board of directors. Just a few weeks ago we had a meeting discussing his plans post retirement to stay involved in community efforts and economic development. And our entire town will feel his loss.”

Dublin-Laurens Chamber of Commerce President Heath Taylor said Avery was in his third year on the chamber board. 

“Don’s contributions to the Dublin-Laurens County Chamber of Commerce and the broader community were immeasurable,” Taylor said. “His legacy of service, leadership and compassion will continue to inspire us all.”

Becky Wood knew Avery from his time on the ABC Women’s Clinic board. From the time Don and Fara, his wife of 40 years, moved to Dublin, they have been a blessing to Wood.

“They had adoptive children, and they understood the value of life,” Wood said. “He was very committed to the Lord, to life, to his family and to this community and, of course, obviously to the hospital. He is going to be sorely missed. I know that he finished his work (Thursday) afternoon. He is with his daughter again and his Lord. I guarantee you that he is not sad in the least. He is rejoicing, and the party going on in Heaven is a big deal. I know the community is better off for having Don and Fara Avery in Dublin, Georgia.” 

Avery, who was born in Peoria, Illinois, in 1956, graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1978. He would serve as a pilot, instructor pilot and operations officer and two more years in the Florida National Guard. Keith Griffin, Center for Development and Civic Engagement chief at the Carl Vinson VA Medical Center, called Avery an amazing guy. 

“He was a strong advocate of veteran care and making sure that veterans received the care that they deserved,” Griffin said. “For years, we’ve had a partnership with Fairview Park where if there were services we couldn’t offer to our veterans, we could always reach out to our community partners and Fairview Park was one of them. Don was always willing to come to the table and talk with leadership. He is truly going to be missed and he was truly an advocate for veteran healthcare.” 

Anyone who has seen a Fairview Park float in local parades the last three or four years could not help but see its CEO and president dancing around, waving and having a good time.

“He loved it,” Bruton said. “That was him in a nutshell. He loved being on stage and loved that whole thing.” 

In 2024, Avery was literally on stage at Theatre Dublin, staring as Mayor Shinn in “The Music Man,” as well as being part of the annual production of “The Nutcracker.” He had also been the emcee for the Leprechaun Contest held in March. 

Downtown Development Authority Executive Director Glenda Berry said Avery had planned to try out for a part in the upcoming “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” on Jan. 25. 

“I could tell he loved the theater because when you saw him on stage, you could tell that he felt very comfortable and that he could command an audience,” Berry said. “At the anniversary celebration for the Carnegie Library, I went up to him and asked him to get involved. I told him that I thought he would have so much fun playing the mayor (in ‘The Music Man.’).

“My heart hurts like so many people in the community,” she added. “I certainly know we’re going to dedicate ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ to Don. … He is somebody to celebrate and remember forever.” 

Last month, Avery announced that he would be retiring this July. Bruton said it was hard thinking about the fact that Avery would be leaving the hospital. It is even tougher now.

What he is holding on to is the faith he and Avery talked about many times.

“He tried to be part of our life and he certainly was,” Bruton said. “He said the greatest servant-leader of all time was Jesus Christ. That is how he wanted to be a leader, to be a servant to others and that’s what he did. He is the best boss I have ever had.”