- https://www.chicagotribune.com/obituaries/douglas-w-mabie-winnetka/
Gone too soon, Douglas W. Mabie passed away suddenly on September 12, 2024. Born on September 16, 1963, to Martha and John Mabie, Doug grew up in Winnetka, IL. He attended Crow Island Elementary School and went on to graduate from New Trier High School. After New Trier, he attended Denison University, in Granville, Ohio – one of his favorite towns. Having been a star basketball player at New Trier, he joined the team at Denison. After one very impactful season, Doug hung up his sneaks to join the Phi Delta Theta fraternity and take on the important role of Social Chairman. Alongside planning parties and attending economics classes on The Hill, Doug spent most of his time courting his future wife, Annie – whom he noticed for the first time sitting on the ledge outside the Student Union. He was immediately smitten.
After graduating from Denison, Doug attended Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management Executive MBA program before beginning his 35-year career in wealth management, most recently at Robert W. Baird. His work style was unique: laid-back, confident, loyal, and approachable. His clients were not just clients, they were friends. He had an innate skill for connecting with people that showed up in every aspect of his life.
His love for helping people extended far beyond the office walls into the Chicago community. In 1996, Doug founded the Springboard Foundation, which aims to improve the lives of youth in under-resourced Chicago communities. His other civic involvements included Millennium Park Board of Trustees, Denison Board of Trustees, Western Golf Association, the Boys & Girls Club, and serving as president of Indian Hill Club. While he enjoyed serving as IHC’s president, he may have been more proud of his contributions to the Indian Hill Beer Committee (Stiegl on tap!).
Doug was the planner of countless trips and get-togethers with his many dear friends which extended from grade school through his adulthood. Doug always brought the fun.
Doug’s most cherished contribution to the world, however, was that of husband and father.
After attending Denison together, Doug and Annie got married in 1990 at the Philadelphia Zoo. What started at the zoo continued when Doug and Annie went on to raise three monkeys, Rachel (30), Heather (28), and Ross (25).
As a Dad, Doug was a devoted coach and fan, never missing one of his kids’ soccer, basketball, baseball, field hockey, or gymnastics events. In addition to sports, Doug had many life lessons for his kids. He taught them that the best bands are rock & roll, that the best Chicago sports team is the White Sox, and that finding funny friends is one of the most important things you can do because laughter is the best medicine.
Now to touch briefly on Doug’s lighthearted and goofy personality. Doug danced like no one was watching. He could often be found on a dance floor pumping his arms in the air. At 6’6, you couldn’t miss him “totally rockin’ out”, and he treated every wedding as if it was a concert. Speaking of concerts, he loved the Who, the Talking Heads, the Stones, and many more bands. However, most recently, he became a fierce and loyal Swiftie, seeing “Taytay” perform live with Annie, Rachel, and Heather this summer in Switzerland.
When not seen jamming to Taytay or riding his e-bike, Doug could be seen on one of many local golf courses. It was never hard for Doug to find a game of golf. One of his greatest joys in life was playing with his son, Ross. They played together all over the country and had more memories than they could count. When Ross got his first hole-in-one, not a minute passed before he called his Dad to share the news. Doug also never cared about the score. Well…maybe he did care about the score…based on how many gimmes he gave himself.
Not a day will go by when his family and friends won’t miss Doug, “Dougie Boys” Mabie. He lived his life with a big smile, an even bigger heart, and no regrets. May everyone follow his lead to “Do Better” in every way possible.
Doug is survived by his wife of 34 years, Annie Mabie; his daughters, Rachel and Heather; his son, Ross; his father, John Mabie; his sisters, Karen Mabie and Janice MacVicar (Butch); his brother, Clint; his sister-in-law, Lael Ravenscroft; and 10 nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother, Martha Mabie.
- https://denison.edu/announcement/156300
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
|
1963 - 2024 (60 years)
