Don Duso (1931-2010) was offered the position of Grand Marshal on January 8, 2009 – two days before his death.  With the kind support of his widow Cherie and children, Kim and Valerie, we are pleased to be able to honor Don in this way despite his untimely death.  Don served as Chairman of the Winter Carnival committee for about 24 years and oversaw its development into the fabulous family event it has become.  He also served for 54 years as a member of the Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire Department and spent four terms, totaling 12 years, as its chief.  Don was a lifelong resident of Saranac Lake, a Korean War Veteran and ran a local business with numerous facets.

The breadth of Don’s involvement in the very fabric of life in Saranac Lake cannot be overstated.  He was the Saranac Lake Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year in 1984, Winter Carnival King in 1986 and a member of the Adirondack Community Church in Lake Placid.  His work on behalf of Winter Carnival carried numerous different forms – everything from raising funds to managing the parade and cutting blocks of ice for the palace.  Did I mention cutting blocks of ice?  How about more than 100,000 blocks of ice commencing in 1955.  It will take a committee just to do what Don used to do. His objective was that each carnival be better than the previous one. It is fitting that everyone agrees that 2009, his last as Chairman, was the best that anyone can remember. We already miss his ugly hat and big smile very quietly making sure that everything was happening the way it was supposed to happen. Thanks Don – not just for your service but also for the gentlemanly and respectful way you performed it! It will take a committee just to do what you used to do.