Don & Lorraine Freeberg Hospitality Management Building Endowment Fund

The Don and Lorraine Freeberg Foundation is a proud partner with Mission College and its hospitality and culinary programs. This endowment supports technology and equipment needs for the School of Hospitality Management.

Don Freeberg passed away in 2011 and lived a very fruitful life. He was born on April 21, 1924 in Duluth, MN. Don started his business career with a morning paper route in Duluth, MN, which he continued until he graduated from High School. Shortly thereafter, he enlisted in the US Navy as an Aviation Cadet and earned his wings. Following the war, in 1946, he returned to the University of Minnesota. It was during this time that he married Lorraine Hegvold on March 22, 1947.

Upon graduating with a Bachelor Degrees in Electrical Engineering and Business Administration, he took a job with IBM as a salesman. When he had saved enough money, he resigned from IBM, and became a builder and real estate developer, eventually building single-family subdivisions, apartments, office buildings and health care facilities.

In 1981, he had also entered the hospitality industry by building, owning and operating hotels, including The Plaza Suites in Santa Clara, California, which he continued to do until his death. In addition to being involved in insurance his companies included real estate holdings of apartments, office buildings, industrial properties and health care facilities. An avid rancher, he also owned citrus and avocado groves in Pauma Valley as well as a cattle ranch in Idaho.

His love for horses included his participation in several riding clubs including the Rancheros Visitadores and the Desert Caballeros. Don was an avid pilot, snow skier, and hunter who enjoyed the companionship of his black labradors. He was a member of the Hollywood Masons Lodge, in addition to volunteering with many youth oriented charities.