Dear Denison friends and colleagues,
I am deeply saddened to share with you that Denison Trustee Douglas W. Mabie ’86 has passed away.
Doug was a loving husband and father, a deeply caring friend, and a model Denisonian who enjoyed extraordinary success in his life and career. He cared deeply about the college and contributed to Denison in a wide range of ways.
He spent the early part of his career at William Blair, a global investment firm he joined in 1988. Eight years later, after earning his MBA from Northwestern University, he joined William Blair’s Investment Management division as a portfolio manager and member of the consumer products research team. In 2012, he joined financial services company Robert W. Baird & Co., where he served as a financial advisor and managing director at the Chicago-based Mabie Group.
Doug was equally passionate about his commitment to his community. In 1996, he founded the Springboard Foundation, which aims to improve the quality of life in Chicago’s economically challenged neighborhoods by focusing on grassroots efforts that may otherwise have difficulty obtaining financial assistance. Over the years, Springboard has awarded millions in grants to hundreds of deserving educational programs. Doug was also active on a wide range of other boards, including the Midwestern chapter of the U.S. Committee for UNICEF and North Shore Country Day School.
During his time at Denison, Doug played varsity basketball and was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He was an alum who was always willing to serve the college in any way he was asked to do so. His long history of volunteer service to Denison included serving as a career advisor and President’s Associates volunteer and as a member of the Varsity D Association, President’s Leadership Council, and his reunion gift committee. In 2011, Doug received an Alumni Citation, which is the highest honor the college bestows upon its alumni.
In 2014, Doug joined the Denison Board of Trustees and was an important member of our Investment, Student Life, and Honorary Degree committees. Doug was one of Denison’s most committed trustees and was widely admired and respected by other trustees. He was also a generous and loyal donor who was passionate about making Denison affordable to students.
Denison is defined by relationships. Doug represented this quality exceptionally well. He leaves behind deep friendships with many Denisonians and Denison trustees. I feel honored to have known him, worked closely with him, and called Doug a friend. I am deeply grateful for his commitment to the college and all the ways he contributed to Denison.
Our deepest condolences go out to his beloved wife of over 30 years, Annie Ravenscroft Mabie ’87, and their three children, including Rachel Mabie ’16. Funeral services will be held 3 p.m. Sept. 27 at Kenilworth Union Church in Kenilworth, Illinois. The Denison flag will fly at half-staff for three days in Doug’s honor.
Adam S. Weinberg
President
Denison University