Don Axinn has been called the quintessential 20th Century Renaissance man, and for good reason. He is pursuing three separate and distinct careers: he is a writer, a successful real estate developer and has a lifelong commitment to public service. He is an avid pilot and sportsman (click to read more). Don continues his long-standing involvement with The Cradle of Aviation Museum. He helped to envision the eight exhibit galleries which are housed in the Donald Everett Axinn Air and Space Museum Hall.

Don is the author of eight volumes of poetry. His articles and essays have been published in The New York Times and Newsday, and Anteus, among others. He has written two novels, The Ego Makers and Spin, and is currently completing work on a third novel, Allan, Burning. His latest book of poems, Walking Through the Night, has been published by Ediciones El Tucán de Virginia. He is looking forward to a Fall reading in conjunction with the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City. He is under contract to write an illustrated coffee table book, Courage: The Early Aviators 1910-1940, which is nearing completion.

Axinn has enjoyed the honor of reading his poetry before the U.S. Library of Congress, the United Nations, and in Russia. He was a Tennesee Williams Fellow at the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference, and has conducted hundreds of lectures and workshops around the country. He is a former Dean at Hofstra University, and has received five honorary degrees.

Don's love of flying shines through in his writing. Even the titles suggest an affair with the air: Dawn Patrol, Against Gravity, The Hawk's Dream and Sliding down the Wind. As an office building developer, he never lost touch with the importance of preserving our natural resources. He serves as Trustee Emeritus for The Nature Conservancy, and his affinity for the great outdoors is also reflected in many of his poems and books. He is one of the founders of and is active in the Interfaith Nutrition Network, which provides food and shelter to the hungry and homeless on Long Island, New York, and was humbled and honored when the Long Island Association bestowed upon him the 2003 Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award. He also received, along with good friend Nelson DeMille, the Hofstra University President's Medal. He is also active in several literary organizations, including the Academy of American Poets, Pen American Center, Poets & Writers and Poets House.

Thanks to SPIN, Hollywood has gotten into Don’s blood. Collaborator James Redford has written a screenplay for Allan, Burning, and they are also working - together with filmmaker Mayo Chermayeff - on a major documentary concerning a northeast Indian tribe.

Don and his wife Joan have six children between them, and live on Long Island, in Vermont and in the nation's largest fly-in community, Spruce Creek in Florida.