Donn Ginoza

I became an attorney shortly after graduation. Worked for two agencies my entire career. First six years for the Legal Services Corporation and 34 years with the California Public Employment Relations Board, all in California. Retired in 2020 as an administrative law judge handling issues related to union collective bargaining rights. I’m transitioning into some labor arbitration work in retirement.

I stunned myself by staying a fifth year at Oberlin, working in the Developmental Services Department (equity and inclusion), yet the experience largely defined the trajectory of the rest of my life.

I had a wonderful 30 year marriage with my dear wife who sadly passed in 2019. Largely because of my years of constant subliminal messaging our son vowed he would never attend Oberlin, but when it was all said and done, he did. He learned how to DJ at WOBC, specializing in electronic music, which constitutes an essential part of his identity today.

I was that guy in Tank Coop who almost got evicted for playing the same Earth Wind and Fire album night after night while trying to quietly drum on the dresser. I was an R&B and jazz junkie before I got to Oberlin. But I got to see Parliament at Finney. I had seen them in high school but this show was wild. Also borrowed somebody’s car once to see Herbie Hancock in Cleveland playing music from his Fat Albert Rotunda album.

Yes, for sure

No

All in the frigid town of Oberlin.