Don was an integral part of our East Lake Dawgs golf group, and he hosted many group outings. His support for “The Hugs for Kids” organization spoke to the kind of person he was. I had so much fun playing golf with Don and Ben Wright at Don’s course in NC. Don set the gold standard for kindness and generosity.
Gary Showers
I had the privilege of getting to know Don Senior and the Cayo clan when I moved to Tampa from Miami in 1986. I was newlywed in a new city, and I was working for the competition at the time.
In short time, I felt the presence of Copy Control Center and having worked for Xerox in Miami in XFM accounts I knew I was in the presence of a legend!! Don had helped create the program across the country.
My new home was the Copy Control Center and, in a short time, Legal Copies. I lovingly referred to him as El Don!!! I was a wide-eyed 23-year-old, and El Don became my mentor. Donnie and Booby helped, but when El Don spoke, it was like EF Hutton. Everybody listened. He gave me tough love and lots of compassion and knew when to pick me up or give me hell when it was needed. His instincts were terrific, and that bellowing laugh and smile will always be with me. I will forever be thankful for having in my life the lessons taught and the privilege of getting to know the Cayo family.
You will be missed, but be rest assured, you will always be present in the lives of those you touched, El Don Cayo.
Eddie Dominguez and family.
Don was an essential part of my life and time in Tampa. He was certainly one of the most positive and supportive people I have ever known.
Don, Terry, and the boys were a prominent part of our life in Florida. When we moved there in 1993, my brother made me commit to joining Rotary, and Don was the first person I met when I attended a meeting of the Carrollwood Rotary. Don and Tom mentored me, and I appreciate the friendship that developed.
I feel fortunate to have known the Cayo family and become close to Don and Terry over the years. We shared some wonderful times. Traveling across Canada was a true adventure and one I’ll never forget. I think I laughed all the way from Calgary to Vancouver. Visiting Hendersonville was always a treat. Spending time and working with Donnie and Bobby was good, and I hope I was able to contribute at least a little to their business success.
I go through my pictures periodically and always enjoy seeing and remembering the times we shared. Don will be truly missed, and I am sorry for the pain his passing will bring to his family and friends.
I know that Don's memory will always bring a smile to my heart. He is undoubtedly one of the best men I have ever known.
Robert Weisman
In honoring Don’s memory, let us carry forward the warmth of his spirit, knowing that he lived a life defined by kindness, laughter, and an unwavering ability to touch souls.
Thank you Donny, Bobby, and the Cayo family for letting us know about your dad's passing. He was such a huge part of my families life - getting to know all of you during the Reston Youth Football days, Redskin games, his friendship with my dad, and being my boss at the XRC. He made everyone feel significant and a part of your family. I will never forget his banter with my dad, his jokes, the way he loved you kids, and his leadership at work. Leisa and I will ask God to give you, the family, and extended friends the grace to release him to God. His life meant a great deal to me - for which I am extremely grateful.
Bob Shull
MY LIFE
by Donald Francis Cayo
I was born on Aprll 25, 1935 at 4:55 A.M. at 9 lbs 6oz. Lawrence Memorlal Hospltal In Medford Massachusetts.
My Mother was born on February 10, 1904. My Father was born on April 3, 1904
My sister Maxine was born on March 28, 1933
My sister Marcia was born June 1, 1941
I enjoyed kindergarten at five years old as well as 1st grade, 2nd and 3rd grade. At seven years old, I climbed a tree and fell and broke my elbow. I was taken to a hospital because it was a bad break and had to have an operation. I carry that scar on my left arm. We moved from Medford to Newton Center at my age of 8 and I enjoyed the move to 4th grade. I really enjoyed my new friends as well as signing up to become a newspaper boy, my first job.
We moved to a large house in Newton Center, and my Grandmother and Grandfather came to live with us In September. Unfortunately, On November 11th, my Pops had
a heart attack and died at 72 years. It was so sad, and I loved him so much.
These were war years, and my Dad took a job In the
shipyards.
He was too old to join the armed services. I will never forget September 2, 1945, as the Japanese surrendered. That day I was playing baseball and the sirens went off. At ten years old, I loved It. My Dad got a job with S.S. Kresge's and traveled a lot. The company sent him to New Jersey to live in Morristown. so we moved. It was 1948, and I was 13 and still had a paper route. It was fun to be In New Jersey, and I was
a teenager. I met many great friends in Morristown High School. I was happy to be a freshman at 14. After all my years as a paperboy at 15 years old, I needed a better job. My new job was with Western Union, delivering telegrams on my bike. I really enjoyed Morristown High. I was into sports, mostly baseball with my friends, but never dated until my
junior class only once. Most of the time, I worked after school and Saturday at S.S. Kresge's. I really enjoyed my senior year and dated a few girls. I even went to our Senior Prom.
I enjoyed graduation and looked forwara•be a Freshman at. Seton Hall University
Over the many years, I always worked and saved money to
go to college and continue during the summers.
I was invited to go to a New Year's 1954 party.
My best friend and I made a $50 deal who will make the most dates in 1954. There were many beautiful girls at the party.
I was fortunate to get a kiss at midnight from Terry Parrillo.
She was In the Senior class of 1954. She told me that she didn't know me. A couple of weeks later, I called her to ask If she would like to go to a Seton Hall Dinner dance. She
would check with her Mother, and It was done. We had a great
time. Terry's age was 16, and mine was 18. She was beautiful and had lots of fun. Terry was dating a guy who was joining the army and I thought I might be able change things. Things did change as we dated a lot. We went to Rod's Ranch House Restaurant on her 17th Birthday, March 10th. On March 13th she agreed to go steady with me great.
We had so many great times and we were falling deeply In
love. Terry will graduate in June and will go to Nursing School at Orange Memorial Hospital in New Jersey.
It was nice because we were very close to each other. Seton Hall and Orange Memorial.
Terry's Nursing school was for three years and that coincides with my 2nd, 3rd and 4th years at Seton Hall University. We had great times at the hall for basketball and many dances.
During my summers, I always worked hard In several jobs. One of my worst jobs was Iron mining in Mine Hill, N.J. We were sent down In a giant bucket one mile underground. We worked from 12 midnight to 7 am. The pay was $1.75 an hour. Not bad for those years, but it was challenging work.
In 1956, I wanted to give Terry an engagement ring, but I had
to ask her Mother. She said ok, but Theresa must graduate from Orange Memorial and then get married. I bought the ring on July 14, 1956. That evening, I gave her the ring and asked If she would marry me. Have a great evening!!
1957
In my senior year, most of us thought that we would have to
join the Army. Right before the spring, a change took place by the Army. They would allow us to go to Fort Dix for 6 months and put us In the Army Reserves for 5 1/2 years. Most of us took the plan. We wound up on July 5, 1957, in the Army for 6 months. I guess we started basic training on July 8th for the next 8 weeks. After basic, we will have a week to enjoy our marriage on Saturday, August 31, at St. Joseph Catholic in
Mendham NJ. It was great. My Mother & Father gave us a four days to Bermuda. We will never forget the wedding with all our friends. It was back to Fort Dix on Thursday for me. Next weekend she graduation as an RN at Orange Memorial and I sent a bunch of roses....l always wished I could have been there. My wife has been a wonderful nurse and person and
always takes care of me and all of our family. Our first car that we owned was a Plymouth, it cost $300 all from our cash from our wedding. The effective date from Fort Dix was Dec 17th. We got an apartment in Morristown close to Morristown Memorial, and Terry had a job there as well as driving our Plymouth. Now, it was me to find a job. My Father always
wanted for me to be a dentist, however I really wanted to be a business man and sales person. I found a job with Thomas A Edison Industries selling Dictating Equipment. Our office was in Newark, N.J. I started in January 1958. It was a very good product, and I did very well. We had six sales reps In our office and they really helped me getting started. It didn't take long to come up with a good pitch and make several sales.
It didn't take long for Terry to become pregnant, and she continued her nursing at the local hospital. Our first son was born on January 28, 1959, and his name is Donnie. That was a great time. We decided to buy a home instead of staying In our apartment. The home was on 4 Appletree Lane Morris Plains N.J. That was a nice home and a great neighborhood with young friends and children. Once again Terry became pregnant and Bobby was born on February 14, 1960 on Valentines Day. Two sons In one year... wow! I was doing well with Edison Industries for two years and four months until I had a phone call from a good friend who worked In New York with Edison. He had changed his job with Haloid Xerox In New Jersey. He said he had made much more money than Edison, so I Interviewed with the Branch Manager at Haloid Xerox and he llked me to start in April 1960. Right after I started with the company, they changed their name to Xerox Corporation. What a great company I lasted 25 years starting as a sales rep and In several management positions throughout.
Xerox had the very best copying equipment In the world, and
It was fun to sell, and the money was great. Our office was in Springfield, NJ. Our Army Reserve unit in New Jersey was a requirement every Wednesday evening, and we also had to spend two weeks every summer in Camp Drum, NV. The newspaper came out on August 28, 1961, as our President.
Kennedy required us to send in the Army Reserves because of the Berlin crisis. 76,000 reservists-and national guardsman were called up. Unfortunately our unit was one of our Army Reserves to be sent to Fort Benning Georgia October 1, 1961. I was undoubtedly upset to be away for almost 11 months as the Army payday is very tough, much less than Xerox. Anyway, we were able to bring our family to Ft. Benning. It was a difficult time, but we made it through. When we returned to my job at Xerox, it was great to be back. I was so happy also to have received my Honorable Discharge from the Army of the United States.
Xerox was doing so much and selling more and more of the 914 Office Copier. In Its first two years, the 914 copier rose.
98.8 percent in 1961.
Things were going so well with Xerox, and we now have additional equipment. We enjoyed our home in Morris Plains and our daughter Patti was born May 3, 1963. Finally a great daughter and we love her so much as she had problems, but she made it through.
My Grandmother died from a stroke on March 17, 1964. She
was 91.
I was promoted to become a Sales Manager in Aprll 1966 in Newark NJ. As a Sales Manager, I had 12 sales reps under me to manage. Xerox Corporation was bringing out several machines and became one of the best companies In the world. I really enjoyed being In management. Now that we had three children, our home was small, and in 1967, we decided
to build a much larger home In Chester, NJ. It was more country and farmland, and our kids loved it. The years went quickly, and I really enjoyed my Xerox Management. We went to Bermuda with the kids on ApriI 6,1969 for a week. And came came home on April 13, 1969. Terry's Dad had a long wait at Newark airport. We came home, and a few hours we got a call that Terry's Dad had a heart attack and Died at 58.
In 1970, my manager asked me if I would like to interview for a larger position in Washington DC and Baltimore. This was a new situation named XRC or Xerox Reproduction Center. My interview was with the President of XRC. He was very nice and told me that he would be putting in about 35 centers In the United States. This sounded like a good plan.
I talked to my wife about the situation, and It looked good. Of course we would need to sell our home and that would take some time. I would have to be in an apartment in Washington and would go back and forth on the weekends until our home was sold. I looked for a new home In Reston Virginia about 1/2 hour from Washington. We found a beautiful place. My office and building was in Washington DC. I was very busy bringing in Sales Reps, Secretaries,
Production workers, etc. It was tough enough, along with the space In Baltimore. My job was as a Branch Manager in DC as well as In Baltimore. As time goes along we finally brought In our first contract for XRC. The program: It is a contract to bring In Xerox equipment and Xerox people to run the
equipment. As we bring in more Sales Reps, we bring in more revenue.
We moved in to our new home In Reston VA. We really
enjoyed August and September with the kids at school, and they enjoyed it. My Mother and Father came to visit In October and enjoyed our new home. When Dad visited he thought we were In the municipal buildlng...always a joke.
In March 1971, my Dad found out that he had cancer of the
pancreas. He did well to meet his friends, but my Dad passed away on December 6, 1971. My Dad was 67 years old. Much too young.
Our business was really doing well, and I had many excellent people in sales and a great service organization. We got started In Baltimore, and things are looking good. We were able to move Into the Xerox-level space across from the
Potomac River In Virginia. We have quickly expanded as the number of Sales people are now about 12 and Production and Admln people are about 24. It was not bad for a year or so, and business was excellent.
Over the years, we finally had 35 Centers throughout the United States. As years went by we were doing very well and we needed much more space in Washington and Baltimore.
In the next 13 years we had an Incredible business. We had 5 Sales Managers, 60 Sales Reps, 6 Admin, 2 Production Managers 70 Production Workers and me the boss!
Many times our XRC was the best Center through out the U.S.
I really enjoyed the 15 years. It was a great time, fun, and hard
work.
Washington D.C. was a wonderful place and it grew so fast over the years. Our kids really enjoyed it and they also loved Reston Virginia. Terry and I really made lots of friends over the years. We joined the Reston Country Club, and most of our friends were golfers. Donnie graduated from high school in 1977 and went to St. Leo College in Florida, graduating in 1981. Bobby graduated from high school in 1978 and went to James Madison University in Virginia, graduating in 1982. Patti graduated from high school in 1981 and went to James Madison University in Virginia, graduating in 1985. In 1983 Donnie joined the XRC in Atlanta as a Sales Rep and Bobby joined the XRC in Philadelphia as a Sales Rep.
After 25 years with Xerox Corporation At the age 50 years old, with just over $50,000 In stock from Xerox I decided to quit the company and start our own business in Tampa Florida. Donnie and Bobby thought that would be great, and we also would bring my Production Manager Herman DIiiard from Xerox. Terry was agreeable to the situation.
It took some time to find rental space in Tampa. So we would need several times to come to Tampa. In 1985, Tampa only had a little in the way of motels and restaurants. What a difference from 32 years. We were very lucky to find rental space in the paper. I called the number and It was in Osborne Ave just off of Dale Mayberry Hwy. The man's name was Don Oberlin, and he was Treasurer from
the Cadillac Showroom just around the corner. He had two
Bulldings and he only had space at 2400sq ft. He made a good deal for us and we become good friends. For our next move, we needed furniture and found a good auction. We called Xerox and told them that I just left Xerox after 25 years. We needed a machine as we expected to open on April 1, 1985.
It was a slow start, but we had 3 Xerox salesmen who knew the ropes. The sign went up, and COPY CONTROL CENTER was born.
We called on as many large law firms in Tampa and showed them how we can bring in copying equipment and control through an operator. The program Is called Facilities Management. It really took off after a year and a half. The law firms talk with one another and asked about Copy Control Centers FM program. It is much better than Xerox as we spent many years with Xerox, and we know it best.
Going back to Don Oberlin, he asked me one day if I would like to go to his Rotary Club In Carrollwood. I enjoyed it, and I would like to join the club. In those days, It took more than two months to bring in a member. I joined the Tampa Carrollwood Rotary on August 30, 1995, and have been a member since 32 years ago. I love it.
I have Four Paul Harris Fellows.
Club President 1991 -1992 at The Tampa Club
Rotarian of the year
1993-1994
Rotarian of the year
2013-2014
Distinguish Rotarian Award 1998 - 1999 Service Above Self Award 2003 - 2004 Rotary Convention Mexico City June 2, 1991
Rotary Convention Orlando Florida June 14, 1992
Rotary Convention Calgary June 21, 1996
Rotary Convention Chicago June 17, 2005
As the years go by we needed more space in the back and the people left and we had more space. A few months later, Don Oberlin asked If we could buy both buildings. It was a go. As the years went by, we were doing a great business. We decided to open up Orlando and called It Legal Copies. After a few years we decided to open Nashville and that was doing well. We had many good Sales Reps and were doing well.
Patti and Tom were married In Virginia on March 15, 1986. As time went on, they decided to join us in Tampa and become part of Copy Control Center. Eventually Patti became Administrative VP and Tom became Production Manager.
Our business was doing exceptionally well especially with law firms numbering about 25 Facllltles Management Programs.
I was so pleased to have such a great business of 5 years and such wonderful people. I sent this note to all. "You are on your way to so many beautiful things In the years to come. Welcome to the New Year! I hope it will be the happiest you've ever known and that it will be a year filled with dreams come true. This is such a perfect time to think of wishes you want to turn into realities and goals you want to reach.
It takes a lot to set your sights on a distant horizon and to keep on reaching for those goals. It takes a lot of courage and hard work, believing and achieving patience and perseverance, inner strength, and gentle hope. It takes a lot of giving it your best and doing the fantastic things you do. But most of all.......It takes someone as wonderful as all of you.”
As the years go by, our companies continue to prosper. Every year, we brought in more business. As we finished our 10th year, several companies wanted to buy us. We were now a ten mllllon dollar company and we llstened to many companies. Facilities Management was very popular then. Lanier Professional Services Inc. made the best offer of all
the others.
COPY CONTROL CENTER CORPORATION LEGAL COPIES OF ORLANDO, INC
SALE OF ASSETS
TO
LANIER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, INC
April 19, 1996
DONALD F. CAYO SR, DONALD F. CAYO JR. ROBERT D. CAYO and PATRICE A. CARPENTER
Officers and Shareholders of the Sellers and Residents of the State of Florida.LANGFORD & HILL P.A.
I retired after the sale, and our family continued with Lanier.
It was time to go to the mountains of North Carolina and build a great home. We found Hendersonville a beautiful town. A few miles from town, we found Champion HIiis, a great golf course by Tom Fazio. We would go up for six months in the summer and six months in winter in Florida.
We loved the mountains and our grandkids and all our family and any of our great friends. Unfortunately Terry's Mother died on April 2, 2000 In her apartment in Florida. We found her after church. She was 85 years old. We sold our Champion Hills home in September 2016. I had problems with my heart for a few years.
On January 10th, 2017. I had heart surgery for my aortic valve. surgery through the groin, placing a new aortic valve. This is a two hour procedure and I was sent home the following day. My heart responded well. It was amazing.