He was 64.
“For me, personally, Menard was the constant professional,” said his son, Steve Menard. “He was a good barometer of what a good Christian man should be.”
  
|
“He fought as hard as he could fight and we lost him at 4:45,” the younger Menard said.
Curt Menard was a pilot, a dentist and a legislator. He served on the Mat-Su Borough School Board from 1984 until 1986. From 1986 to 1994 he represented the Valley first in the state House of Representatives and then in the state Senate. His term as borough mayor began in 2006.
He was also the patriarch of a family of dentists and local politicians. Steve Menard is a former Wasilla City Council member. Menard’s wife, Linda, currently represents the Valley in the state Senate and is a former member of the Mat-Su Borough School Board.
Another son, Curt Menard Jr., was an orthodontist in Wasilla until he died in a plane crash, Steve Menard said. The ice arena at the Wasilla Multi-Use Sports Complex is named in his honor.
Menard came to Alaska as an Air Force dentist. Steve Menard said shortly after settling in the Valley, his father bought a homestead in the Wasilla area. The land had a cabin built in 1952, a milking house and a field Menard used as a landing strip.
In 1975, worried that he couldn’t quite see an overhead powerline running between the two buildings while landing his plane at night, Menard decided to try and mark the line himself. The line appeared to be insulated but had corroded and no longer was safe. Menard took a blast of electricity that cost him his right arm.
“It should’ve killed him,” Steve Menard said. “It’s remarkable that he lived after that.”
What’s also remarkable, Steve Menard said, is that his brother, Curt Jr., survived. He was helping his dad when the accident happened but let go of the aluminum ladder they were using.
“We got another 27 years out of him,” Steve Menard said.
His father was a right-handed dentist, Steve Menard said. With a new mortgage and three children, he couldn’t afford to let the injury end his career. Nor would the community let him. They kept asking when he’d get back in his dentist’s chair.
“He self-taught himself on some very tough Valley patients how to be a left-handed dentist,” Steve Menard said.
Mike Szymanski represented the Valley in the Senate when Menard was elected to represent the Valley in the House. He said he and Menard often talked about being amputees. Szymanski lost a leg in a snowmachine accident.
“I think he was a symbol to many other amputees,” Szymanski said. Menard’s example showed that, “There was no reason to slow down and not do what you want to do.”
Szymanski said he and Menard had similar legislative styles, emphasizing talking to and caring about their constituents.
“Curt and I had a kind of a special relationship, I always felt,” Szymanski said. “When I decided to leave the Senate I looked to Curt to take my seat.”
And he did.
The seat represented a district referred to at the time as the “donut district.”
The area it covered basically surrounded Anchorage, encompassing Girdwood and a large piece of the Kenai Peninsula, Valdez and Prince William Sound, Mt. McKinley and the Mat-Su Borough.
“It was very diverse and it was a difficult district to represent at the time,” Szymanski said.
Johanna Munson, who now works in the office of the director of the Bureau of Land Management in Washington, D.C., got her start in public service working as an aide on Menard’s resources committee.
She and Szymanski agreed that among Menard’s great passions were parks and public resources.
Because his district was so large, Menard was the senator representing Prince William Sound when the Exxon Valdez oil spill occurred.
“All of those communities will remember Curt,” she said.
She said he was also a great boss who felt, “Never should work be so serious that you can’t laugh about it and have fun.”
“He always looked out for me, too,” she said.
It was between his stint in the Legislature and his term as mayor was when Menard was diagnosed with cancer.
“We were lucky to have him because he could’ve said I’m gong to go home and fight this health problem alone but he didn’t,” said Borough Spokeswoman Patty Sullivan.
Cindy Bettine, who represents Big Lake on the Borough Assembly, said Menard was a joy to work with.
“Of course I’m very, very sad. I’ve already had a good cry this morning,” she said Tuesday of Menard’s passing. “But I just keep on focusing on the good things that he had done for the Valley,” she said.
She said his biggest legacy locally was probably the Wasilla Multi-Use Sports Complex. Menard was instrumental in putting the bond issue on the ballot that eventually paid for the complex’s construction.
Steve Menard said his dad was also very proud of another local project that will be one of his legacies -- the Sunshine Clinic near Talkeetna. Curt Menard was the first dentist there and worked very hard to get the clinic off the ground. Each procedure there costs the patient $25. The model — affordable dental care for rural communities — is one other areas are seeking to copy, Steve Menard said..
Bettine said she’s known Menard since before he became a legislator.
“I felt very honored that he thought of me as a community leader in the business community of Wasilla at the time,” Bettine said. “He took me to coffee when he decided to run for state House.”
Sullivan said toward the end Menard started to fade away, looking less and less himself.
Still, she said, that didn’t stop him from coming into work. Just last week, she said, she sat down with him to record what would be his final “Mayor’s Minute” podcast.
“Whenever we recorded ‘Mayor’s Minute’ I would turn the tape off and then he would tell me these stories from the Legislature,” Sullivan said. “They were funny and irreverent and there were a lot of them.”
Just a couple weeks ago, she said, she and other staff were practically begging the mayor to stay home. But he wouldn’t.
“He didn’t look good and we all wanted him to stay home. But there were Girl Scouts that wanted to shake his hand,” Sullivan said.
A memorial service for Curt Menard will be Saturday at 1 p.m., in the Wasilla High School gymnasium. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Habitat for Humanity.
Mayor Menard’s final Borough podcast can be downloaded here: http://blogs.matsugov.us/users/mayorsminute/
Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.
Comments
56 comment(s)duane and louanne vieau wrote on Mar 30, 2009 12:00 PM:
Jim Jan Vieau wrote on Mar 30, 2009 5:55 AM:
We have just heard about Curt's passing and send our sympathy and regrets. We will contact you soon. We will let Uncle Jim know. Sincerely, Jan and Jim Vieau "
DJ Carney wrote on Mar 11, 2009 12:18 PM:
Annette Promes Cummings wrote on Mar 10, 2009 4:19 PM:
Arvella wrote on Mar 7, 2009 7:19 PM:
Gary Howell wrote on Mar 7, 2009 6:37 PM:
Sandy and Bill Menge wrote on Mar 7, 2009 3:09 PM:
Tara W. wrote on Mar 7, 2009 11:10 AM:
Doug and Ruthann Lloyd wrote on Mar 7, 2009 9:13 AM:
Curt will be remembered for his
love and dedication to the Mat Su Valley. "
Doug and Ruthann Lloyd wrote on Mar 7, 2009 9:09 AM:
The Egelus Family wrote on Mar 7, 2009 5:02 AM:
Jim Sykes wrote on Mar 6, 2009 10:59 PM:
Marilyn Heiman wrote on Mar 6, 2009 10:48 PM:
Curt we'll see you on down the trail!
Marilyn "
art engel wrote on Mar 6, 2009 6:50 PM:
Mike Trboyevich wrote on Mar 6, 2009 4:26 PM:
VCRS Recycling Team wrote on Mar 6, 2009 3:22 PM:
Grendell family wrote on Mar 6, 2009 12:14 PM:
Robin Bissey wrote on Mar 6, 2009 7:36 AM:
Darin Swift wrote on Mar 5, 2009 6:21 PM:
My family and I are thinking of all of you at this time. Doctor Menard was a very special man, great dentist and friend. Thanks for the memories of growing up with your boys and the times spent at your house. Darin and Mitsy Swift. "
Linda and Charlie wrote on Mar 5, 2009 3:56 PM:
Mahoney Families wrote on Mar 5, 2009 11:31 AM:
Cece Charlie Harrington wrote on Mar 5, 2009 9:46 AM:
and Curt may you both feel the love and admiration your community has for you both and your family. Words cannot express the sadness we feel for the loss of a very special person. Curt, you will be remembered for your warm smile and kind personality. Linda, our thoughts are with you. Thank you both for being who you are and the amazing gift of sharing with our community.
Your neighbors on Schrock road. "
John Bitney wrote on Mar 5, 2009 9:01 AM:
Stan Nancy Cameron wrote on Mar 5, 2009 7:13 AM:
Our love is with the Menard family.
Curt Sr came to Alaska seeking adventure & touched the underside of Heaven. Now- Curt Sr. & Curt Jr. are flying with the Angels - Sitting around the fires- telling stories of love and adventure.
Gentlemen- "I'll see you down the Trail" "
Steve Menard wrote on Mar 4, 2009 9:11 PM:
Alaska Otterbacher Fairbanks wrote on Mar 4, 2009 7:50 PM:
William Spear wrote on Mar 4, 2009 4:01 PM:
Linda Gjosund wrote on Mar 4, 2009 2:24 PM:
Patti Alix and son Michael wrote on Mar 4, 2009 1:56 PM:
The Carlsons from Fairbanks wrote on Mar 4, 2009 1:17 PM:
Cam, Debbie, Dani, Cricket and Shelby "
lonnie wrote on Mar 4, 2009 12:16 PM:
Dr. Helen Oliver Clark wrote on Mar 4, 2009 9:22 AM:
Linda, know that you, the children, and grandchildren are in my prayers. May God strengthen and sustain you. "
Kris Moore wrote on Mar 4, 2009 8:29 AM:
Linda, strength and blessings to you and your family. You are loved.
Kris "
Shirley calhoun wrote on Mar 4, 2009 8:07 AM:
Charles Grutzmacher Alaska State Trooper Ret wrote on Mar 4, 2009 8:02 AM:
Lori Jones wrote on Mar 4, 2009 7:33 AM:
Kathy Gibson wrote on Mar 4, 2009 4:41 AM:
Neighbor accross the lake wrote on Mar 4, 2009 12:01 AM:
TCH wrote on Mar 3, 2009 10:42 PM:
Leon wrote on Mar 3, 2009 9:20 PM:
We Will Remember wrote on Mar 3, 2009 8:25 PM:
We really appreciate all that Curt did for the Community. We will remember Curt like we have remembered your son, Curtis. Love, The Kennedys "
Steven Bergeron wrote on Mar 3, 2009 5:12 PM:
I had the pleasuer of basketballing with his children, working with Linda on school projects, and I still have some fillings he put in. He was a good lefty and a pleasure to be around. I dont believe I ever talked with him without a smile and a laugh entering the conversation.
All who new him know a good man is gone and he will remain in our thoughts and prayers. "
Gayle Ann wrote on Mar 3, 2009 4:58 PM:
LJ wrote on Mar 3, 2009 3:48 PM:
Bob Andres wrote on Mar 3, 2009 1:42 PM:
Jamin Burton wrote on Mar 3, 2009 1:16 PM:
Dan B wrote on Mar 3, 2009 1:13 PM:
We will miss you
Your Hockey Family "
David Cheezem wrote on Mar 3, 2009 12:27 PM:
The Thompson Family wrote on Mar 3, 2009 12:02 PM:
Basner Family wrote on Mar 3, 2009 11:45 AM:
V. Powell wrote on Mar 3, 2009 11:24 AM:
We're thinking of you Stevie. Love you sweetheart. "
Darin wrote on Mar 3, 2009 11:16 AM:
Thank you for all you gave and sacrificed for the Valley. You were a father to so many people, and you lived your live with increible love, dignity, and compassion.
I know that right now, God is saying "Well done, my good and faithful servant."
Linda and family: we're praying for you.
We love you Curt! "
Marietta wrote on Mar 3, 2009 10:59 AM:
Debra McGhan wrote on Mar 3, 2009 10:50 AM:
The Niver Family wrote on Mar 3, 2009 10:33 AM:
Friends of Curt wrote on Mar 3, 2009 10:12 AM: