Don D. Maronde 1935 to 2018

Way back in 1983, before there were solid roofs on the Oberholtzer cabins and before much was happening as far as “program weeks” on Mallard Island, Don Maronde was introduced to the books in Ober’s collection. Don went on to share his knowledge, muscle, tools and hopes with Mallard Island for nearly 30 years. On October 19, 2018, Don died of congestive heart failure. His was a warm and loving heart, but no heart lasts forever. We can look back and thank Don Maronde for roofs on Cedarbark and Front House and the Library, for a strong south wall on Cook’s House and for the entire 2001 re-build of Artists’ Room, now a coveted individual space near the channel. In 2003, Don also installed the Clivus Multrum composter, a structure that changed all our experiences on Mallard Island and that has made continuous program activity possible each summer. If you’ve been on Mallard, you’ll know that each of these repairs was artistically done and in such a way that it often looked “older and better” after Don got done with it. Don Maronde, since 2004, was also married to Executive Director, Beth Waterhouse, who says that without Don she would never have embraced the job in the way she currently understands it. Don’s quiet ways, dry humor and pie-for-breakfast eating habits will be sorely missed on our favorite isle. A memorial service for Don will be held at Judson Baptist Church in South Minneapolis on Saturday, November 24, 2018 at two o’clock p.m.