Dennis Kendall, who died Monday, remembered as great mayor

MARYSVILLE — Dennis Kendall, who was mayor of Marysville for six and a half years, died Monday. He was 72.

Kendall was elected mayor in 2003 and served until 2010, when he resigned and retired.

He had had a previous career in the photo finishing business, retiring in 2002 as vice president for Crown Photo Systems in Marysville, which has since closed.

He had been in the United States Junior Chamber (the “Jaycees”) when he was in his 30s, said his wife, Susan Kendall, and after his retirement was looking to get more involved politically.

“He just felt it,” Kendall said. “The city should be run like a business.”

There was a mayoral election in 2003, so he ran and won, taking office in December. It was the first time he had run for public office, she said.

“Dennis was a great mayor. He was transformational in many ways in taking the mayor’s office out regionally and enhancing the profile of Marysville,” said Jon Nehring, who replaced Kendall in the mayor’s office.

Kendall oversaw the city during a key period of its growth. During his tenure, the city annexed a large amount of property, increasing its population from 28,370 to 58,040.

He also led the charge to developing more businesses in the city.

“He had a real passion for economic development, bringing in commercial establishments that allowed people to do their shopping and eating in Marysville,” Nehring said.

At the same time Marysville was growing, Kendall was busy promoting the city.

“Dennis and I spent a lot of time together because he had that remarkable but rare attribute in city government, about the understanding and placing value in moving toward regional agreements,” said Bob Drewel, the former Snohomish County Executive.

“His legacy work was making Marysville the best city that he could,” Drewel said.

Bob Bolerjack, the former editorial page editor for The Herald, credited Kendall with building good relationships with the Tulalip Tribes, who were becoming very successful with their new casino.

“As soon as he became mayor, he really turned around the relationship with the Tulalip Tribes. He figuratively built a bridge that exists to this day,” Bolerjack said.

“He understood our history and our future were inextricably bound together,” said Mel Sheldon Jr., who was the Tulalip tribal chairman during part of Kendall’s tenure.

“We were able to develop a dialogue that was inclusive rather than exclusive. We all owe Mayor Kendall our gratitude,” Sheldon said.

Throughout his political career, Kendall was a relentlessly optimistic promoter of his city.

“The best description would be someone full of optimism and joy who was keenly interested in everything and cared about his community,” Nehring said.

“I think I can count on one hand the amount of times I saw Dennis without a smile on his face and laughing,” he said.

He wasn’t always that way.

Born Feb. 27, 1943, in Oregon City, Oregon, Dennis Kendall was one of 16 siblings. He met his future wife while both were working for photo finishing businesses near Portland.

“When we first met he was extremely shy,” Susan Kendall said.

He began to transform into a more public person when he joined the Jaycees, she said.

“That really is the starting point to bringing out his outgoing personality,” she said.

Kendall also taught at the Sno-Isle Tech Skills Center and vocational education through the Marysville School District. He was instrumental in bringing the Boys &Girls Club to Marysville, and was active in Little League, the Strawberry Festival and the Marysville Rotary.

He had Type II diabetes, and when he retired from the mayor’s office in 2010, he had recently lost a brother to the disease.

It was a factor in his decision to step down, even though he wasn’t ill at the time, Susan Kendall said. Instead, he wanted to enjoy retirement.

Last year he fell ill with what was thought to be spinal stenosis, she said. He went through surgeries and physical therapy, but his health rapidly declined.

When he died, doctors determined that he most likely had ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), a neurodegenerative disease that also afflicts physicist Stephen Hawking.

The Kendalls celebrated their 46th wedding anniversary March 15.

The day before, a benefit for the family was held at the Cedarcrest Golf Course, with about 200 people in attendance, Susan Kendall said.

Her husband was able to attend for about an hour, and see a lot of friends and people who otherwise wouldn’t have been brought together until he’d died.

He is survived by his wife, Susan, his daughter, Belinda and her husband, Rob Gloyd, his son, James Kendall, grandsons David Gloyd and Devon Kendall, four brothers and three sisters.

Chris Winters: 425-374-4165; cwinters@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @Chris_At_Herald.

Memorial planned

A memorial service is scheduled for Monday, March 30 at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 4200 88th St. NE in Marysville. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Marysville Boys &Girls Club, 9502 19th Ave. SE #F, Everett, WA 98208.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Everett mall renderings from Brixton Capital. (Photo provided by the City of Everett)
Topgolf at the Everett Mall? Mayor’s hint still unconfirmed

After Cassie Franklin’s annual address, rumors circled about what “top” entertainment tenant could be landing at Everett Mall.

Everett
Everett man sentenced to 3 years of probation for mutilating animals

In 2022, neighbors reported Blayne Perez, 35, was shooting and torturing wildlife in north Everett.

Dorothy Crossman rides up on her bike to turn in her ballot  on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett leaders plan to ask voters for property tax increase

City officials will spend weeks hammering out details of a ballot measure, as Everett faces a $12.6 million deficit.

Starbucks employee Zach Gabelein outside of the Mill Creek location where he works on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mill Creek Starbucks votes 21-1 to form union

“We obviously are kind of on the high of that win,” store bargaining delegate Zach Gabelein said.

Lynnwood police respond to a collision on highway 99 at 176 street SW. (Photo provided by Lynnwood Police)
Police: Teen in stolen car flees cops, causes crash in Lynnwood

The crash blocked traffic for over an hour at 176th Street SW. The boy, 16, was arrested on felony warrants.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order to halt work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Imagine Children's Museum's incoming CEO, Elizabeth "Elee" Wood. (Photo provided by Imagine Children's Museum)
Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett to welcome new CEO

Nancy Johnson, who has led Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett for 25 years, will retire in June.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.