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

Trader Joe’s customers walk in and out of the store on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Trader Joe’s opens this week at Everett Mall

It’s a short move from a longtime location, essentially across the street, where parking was often an adventure.

Ian Bramel-Allen enters a guilty plea to second-degree murder during a plea and sentencing hearing on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Deep remorse’: Man gets 17 years for friend’s fatal stabbing in Edmonds

Ian Bramel-Allen, 44, pleaded guilty Wednesday to second-degree murder for killing Bret Northcutt last year at a WinCo.

Firefighters respond to a small RV and a motorhome fire on Tuesday afternoon in Marysville. (Provided by Snohomish County Fire Distrct 22)
1 injured after RV fire, explosion near Marysville

The cause of the fire in the 11600 block of 81st Avenue NE had not been determined, fire officials said.

Ashton Dedmon appears in court during his sentencing hearing on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett Navy sailor sentenced to 90 days for fatal hit and run

Ashton Dedmon crashed into Joshua Kollman and drove away. Dedmon, a petty officer on the USS Kidd, reported he had a panic attack.

A kindergarten student works on a computer at Emerson Elementary School on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘¡Una erupción!’: Dual language programs expanding to 10 local schools

A new bill aims to support 10 new programs each year statewide. In Snohomish County, most follow a 90-10 model of Spanish and English.

Logo for news use featuring the Tulalip Indian Reservation in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Woman drives off cliff, dies on Tulalip Reservation

The woman fell 70 to 80 feet after driving off Priest Point Drive NW on Sunday afternoon.

Everett
Boy, 4, survives fall from Everett fourth-story apartment window

The child was being treated at Seattle Children’s. The city has a limited supply of window stops for low-income residents.

People head out to the water at low tide during an unseasonably warm day on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Lighthouse Park in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett shatters record high temperature by 11 degrees

On Saturday, it hit 73 degrees, breaking the previous record of 62 set in 2007.

Snohomish County Fire District #4 and Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue respond to a motor vehicle collision for a car and pole. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, near Triangle Bait & Tackle in Snohomish. (Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office)
Police: Troopers tried to stop driver before deadly crash in Snohomish

The man, 31, was driving at “a high rate of speed” when he crashed into a traffic light pole and died, investigators said.

Alan Dean, who is accused of the 1993 strangulation murder of 15-year-old Bothell girl Melissa Lee, appears in court during opening statements of his trial on Monday, March 18, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
31 years later, trial opens in Bothell teen’s brutal killing

In April 1993, Melissa Lee’s body was found below Edgewater Creek Bridge. It would take 27 years to arrest Alan Dean in her death.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Snohomish in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Man dies after crashing into pole in Snohomish

Just before 1 a.m., the driver crashed into a traffic light pole at the intersection of 2nd Street and Maple Avenue.

Bodies of two men recovered after falling into Eagle Falls near Index

Two men fell into the falls and did not resurface Saturday, authorities said. After a recovery effort, two bodies were found.

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.