Donn Vickers Legacy in Columbus Arts | Columbus News

Columbus News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 8, 2026 · 1m

Donn Vickers, the visionary founder of Thurber House and Jefferson Avenue Center, passed away at 91, leaving behind a towering legacy in Columbus arts and community empowerment. A lifelong advocate for Black artists through initiatives like the African American Leadership Academy and Eastside Arts Initiative, he also taught at Ohio State. Before Columbus, his career spanned jazz orchestras in Honolulu, civil rights activism as a clergyman in Rochester, and higher education research in Syracuse. Even in retirement, he remained deeply engaged—visiting Thurber House to mentor and celebrate its…