Donald Don McDowell

Yarmouth, ME - Donald L. McDowell passed away on Tuesday, May 27, 2014. Don was born on June 9, 1934 in Indianapolis, Indiana, the son of Paul E. and Margaret (Enright) McDowell. He graduated from Sidell High School in Sidell, Illinois, and earned a degree in Accounting from The Ohio State University in 1956.

Don married Marilyn Fisher of Delaware, Ohio in 1955. They moved to Toledo, Ohio and then Atlanta, Georgia, where he worked for General Motors in the Chevrolet division. From 1961 to 1974, Don worked for the State University System of Florida, first as the Controller at the University of Florida in Gainesville and then for the Florida Board of Regents in Tallahassee.

In 1969, Don helped turn an abandoned airfield in Miami into a university in three years. Florida International University opened in 1972 with the largest opening day enrollment in the history of higher education. Don left FIU in 1974 for Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, where he worked as the Executive Director of Operations and then as Vice President for Business Affairs.

In 1980, Don and Marilyn moved to Maine. His work at Maine Medical Center, first as Executive Vice President and Treasurer and later as President, brought him great joy. In particular, Don was proud to help create the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center. He went on to be the President of MaineHealth, from which he retired in 2001.

Don valued his service to the community through his work on numerous boards, including the Greater Portland United Way, Portland Chamber of Commerce, Maine Hospital Association, Portland Symphony Orchestra, Maine Bank and Trust, University of Maine System, Konbit Sante, Goodwill Industries of Northern New England, and the Southern Maine Agency on Aging.

During their years together in Toledo, Atlanta, Gainesville, Tallahassee, Miami, Nashville, and Portland, Don and Marilyn raised five children. An avid baseball fan, Don closely followed his St. Louis Cardinals. He enjoyed watching the Portland Sea Dogs and many spring training games in Florida with Marilyn. Don loved his time with his family at their camp on Pleasant Lake in Casco.

Don was predeceased by his parents and his brother Paul. Don is survived by his wife of 58 years, Marilyn; daughters Cathy O’Sheal (Steven) of Birmingham, Alabama; Carrie Snider (Earl) of Old Hickory, Tennessee; sons Don McDowell (Andi) of Ellicott City, Maryland; Paul (Larry) McDowell (Tracy) of Asheville, North Carolina; and Sean (Tom) McDowell (Diane), of Yarmouth. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

The family would like to thank the staff at Bay Square’s Harbor Program for their care and compassion.

A time of gathering and celebration of Don’s life will be held on Thursday May 29 from 4 – 7 PM at Lindquist Funeral Home, Yarmouth. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday May 30 at 11:00 AM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 326 Main Street, Yarmouth. A private burial will follow. Please visit www.lindquistfuneralhome.com to view a video collage of Don’s life and to share condolences, memories and tributes with his family.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Don’s memory to: The Don McDowell Memorial Fund for the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center, Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital Development Office, 22 Bramhall Street, Portland, Maine 04102