Boston Globe
Boston, Mass.
Feb. 12, 2004
p. B12
DONALD MENZIES, 55; TEACHER TURNED HIS PASSIONS INTO ART
Donald W. Menzies was a band leader and music teacher in the Chelsea public schools and president of the city's teacher's union before making a midlife career change and devoting himself to art.
"He took up painting as a means of relaxation when he was president of the union," Christine (A'Hearn) Menzies said yesterday of her husband, 55, who died Monday, apparently of a heart attack, in his Swampscott home.
Mr. Menzies was president of the Chelsea Teachers Union during a particularly stressful time, from 1984 to 1989, when Boston University took over administration of the city's underperforming schools.
During those years, he began devoting his spare time to painting, and soon developed his own style. "American impressionistic," according to his wife.
Inspired by Claude Monet's series of paintings of his gardens at Giverny, Mr. Menzies painted dozens of paintings of the 19th century Fish House in Swampscott in various seasons under a variety of lighting conditions. He also painted local beaches and a well- received portrait of three race horses battling down the home stretch.
"He was basically just an artistic guy," said his wife, "whether it was music or painting."
About 10 years ago, Mr. Menzies's career change was completed when he and his wife became the proprietors of Kennedy Studios in Swampscott, an art gallery and frame shop where he often could be seen laboring over an easel.
Mr. Menzies was born and raised in Medford, where his father, a civil engineer, led heated political discussions at the dinner table.
When it came time for college it was "a tossup whether he would go to music school or art school," said his wife. He chose the Berklee College of Music.
After graduation, he taught music and led the band and small ensemble in the Wilmington and the Chelsea schools. Though his principal instrument was the drums, he taught almost all instruments including the woodwinds.
He also performed with local civic orchestras and with pop groups at nightclubs and weddings.
"Eventually he grew tired of the clubs and weddings and gave up performing, " said his wife.
He was a man of great enthusiasm. After becoming fascinated with a flight simulator computer program, he learned how to pilot a plane. Using photographs of a trip to Scotland, he constructed a model railroad recreation of Edinburgh Station in his attic.
"He was a big man with a tough exterior, but deep down he was a real softie with a certain teddy bear quality about him," his sister- in-law Kathleen Calore of Medford said yesterday.
"He was the most untidy man in the world, but he always knew where everything was," she said. "He was a complicated, very bright, interesting person."
Besides his wife, he leaves a son, Michael Walsh of Swampscott; a daughter, Kathleen Sherkanowski of Swampscott; his mother, Joan (Dorsey) Menzies of Danvers; a brother, Bruce of Danvers; a sister, Robin of Wakefield; and three grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. tomorrow in the Church of the Holy Name in Swampscott. Burial will be in Swampscott Cemetery.
Illustration
Boston, Mass.
Feb. 12, 2004
p. B12
DONALD MENZIES, 55; TEACHER TURNED HIS PASSIONS INTO ART
Donald W. Menzies was a band leader and music teacher in the Chelsea public schools and president of the city's teacher's union before making a midlife career change and devoting himself to art.
"He took up painting as a means of relaxation when he was president of the union," Christine (A'Hearn) Menzies said yesterday of her husband, 55, who died Monday, apparently of a heart attack, in his Swampscott home.
Mr. Menzies was president of the Chelsea Teachers Union during a particularly stressful time, from 1984 to 1989, when Boston University took over administration of the city's underperforming schools.
During those years, he began devoting his spare time to painting, and soon developed his own style. "American impressionistic," according to his wife.
Inspired by Claude Monet's series of paintings of his gardens at Giverny, Mr. Menzies painted dozens of paintings of the 19th century Fish House in Swampscott in various seasons under a variety of lighting conditions. He also painted local beaches and a well- received portrait of three race horses battling down the home stretch.
"He was basically just an artistic guy," said his wife, "whether it was music or painting."
About 10 years ago, Mr. Menzies's career change was completed when he and his wife became the proprietors of Kennedy Studios in Swampscott, an art gallery and frame shop where he often could be seen laboring over an easel.
Mr. Menzies was born and raised in Medford, where his father, a civil engineer, led heated political discussions at the dinner table.
When it came time for college it was "a tossup whether he would go to music school or art school," said his wife. He chose the Berklee College of Music.
After graduation, he taught music and led the band and small ensemble in the Wilmington and the Chelsea schools. Though his principal instrument was the drums, he taught almost all instruments including the woodwinds.
He also performed with local civic orchestras and with pop groups at nightclubs and weddings.
"Eventually he grew tired of the clubs and weddings and gave up performing, " said his wife.
He was a man of great enthusiasm. After becoming fascinated with a flight simulator computer program, he learned how to pilot a plane. Using photographs of a trip to Scotland, he constructed a model railroad recreation of Edinburgh Station in his attic.
"He was a big man with a tough exterior, but deep down he was a real softie with a certain teddy bear quality about him," his sister- in-law Kathleen Calore of Medford said yesterday.
"He was the most untidy man in the world, but he always knew where everything was," she said. "He was a complicated, very bright, interesting person."
Besides his wife, he leaves a son, Michael Walsh of Swampscott; a daughter, Kathleen Sherkanowski of Swampscott; his mother, Joan (Dorsey) Menzies of Danvers; a brother, Bruce of Danvers; a sister, Robin of Wakefield; and three grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. tomorrow in the Church of the Holy Name in Swampscott. Burial will be in Swampscott Cemetery.
Illustration
Boston Globe
Boston, Mass.
Feb. 12, 2004
p. B12
DONALD MENZIES, 55; TEACHER TURNED HIS PASSIONS INTO ART
Donald W. Menzies was a band leader and music teacher in the Chelsea public schools and president of the city's teacher's union before making a midlife career change and devoting himself to art.
"He took up painting as a means of relaxation when he was president of the union," Christine (A'Hearn) Menzies said yesterday of her husband, 55, who died Monday, apparently of a heart attack, in his Swampscott home.
Mr. Menzies was president of the Chelsea Teachers Union during a particularly stressful time, from 1984 to 1989, when Boston University took over administration of the city's underperforming schools.
During those years, he began devoting his spare time to painting, and soon developed his own style. "American impressionistic," according to his wife.
Inspired by Claude Monet's series of paintings of his gardens at Giverny, Mr. Menzies painted dozens of paintings of the 19th century Fish House in Swampscott in various seasons under a variety of lighting conditions. He also painted local beaches and a well- received portrait of three race horses battling down the home stretch.
"He was basically just an artistic guy," said his wife, "whether it was music or painting."
About 10 years ago, Mr. Menzies's career change was completed when he and his wife became the proprietors of Kennedy Studios in Swampscott, an art gallery and frame shop where he often could be seen laboring over an easel.
Mr. Menzies was born and raised in Medford, where his father, a civil engineer, led heated political discussions at the dinner table.
When it came time for college it was "a tossup whether he would go to music school or art school," said his wife. He chose the Berklee College of Music.
After graduation, he taught music and led the band and small ensemble in the Wilmington and the Chelsea schools. Though his principal instrument was the drums, he taught almost all instruments including the woodwinds.
He also performed with local civic orchestras and with pop groups at nightclubs and weddings.
"Eventually he grew tired of the clubs and weddings and gave up performing, " said his wife.
He was a man of great enthusiasm. After becoming fascinated with a flight simulator computer program, he learned how to pilot a plane. Using photographs of a trip to Scotland, he constructed a model railroad recreation of Edinburgh Station in his attic.
"He was a big man with a tough exterior, but deep down he was a real softie with a certain teddy bear quality about him," his sister- in-law Kathleen Calore of Medford said yesterday.
"He was the most untidy man in the world, but he always knew where everything was," she said. "He was a complicated, very bright, interesting person."
Besides his wife, he leaves a son, Michael Walsh of Swampscott; a daughter, Kathleen Sherkanowski of Swampscott; his mother, Joan (Dorsey) Menzies of Danvers; a brother, Bruce of Danvers; a sister, Robin of Wakefield; and three grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. tomorrow in the Church of the Holy Name in Swampscott. Burial will be in Swampscott Cemetery.
Illustration
Boston, Mass.
Feb. 12, 2004
p. B12
DONALD MENZIES, 55; TEACHER TURNED HIS PASSIONS INTO ART
Donald W. Menzies was a band leader and music teacher in the Chelsea public schools and president of the city's teacher's union before making a midlife career change and devoting himself to art.
"He took up painting as a means of relaxation when he was president of the union," Christine (A'Hearn) Menzies said yesterday of her husband, 55, who died Monday, apparently of a heart attack, in his Swampscott home.
Mr. Menzies was president of the Chelsea Teachers Union during a particularly stressful time, from 1984 to 1989, when Boston University took over administration of the city's underperforming schools.
During those years, he began devoting his spare time to painting, and soon developed his own style. "American impressionistic," according to his wife.
Inspired by Claude Monet's series of paintings of his gardens at Giverny, Mr. Menzies painted dozens of paintings of the 19th century Fish House in Swampscott in various seasons under a variety of lighting conditions. He also painted local beaches and a well- received portrait of three race horses battling down the home stretch.
"He was basically just an artistic guy," said his wife, "whether it was music or painting."
About 10 years ago, Mr. Menzies's career change was completed when he and his wife became the proprietors of Kennedy Studios in Swampscott, an art gallery and frame shop where he often could be seen laboring over an easel.
Mr. Menzies was born and raised in Medford, where his father, a civil engineer, led heated political discussions at the dinner table.
When it came time for college it was "a tossup whether he would go to music school or art school," said his wife. He chose the Berklee College of Music.
After graduation, he taught music and led the band and small ensemble in the Wilmington and the Chelsea schools. Though his principal instrument was the drums, he taught almost all instruments including the woodwinds.
He also performed with local civic orchestras and with pop groups at nightclubs and weddings.
"Eventually he grew tired of the clubs and weddings and gave up performing, " said his wife.
He was a man of great enthusiasm. After becoming fascinated with a flight simulator computer program, he learned how to pilot a plane. Using photographs of a trip to Scotland, he constructed a model railroad recreation of Edinburgh Station in his attic.
"He was a big man with a tough exterior, but deep down he was a real softie with a certain teddy bear quality about him," his sister- in-law Kathleen Calore of Medford said yesterday.
"He was the most untidy man in the world, but he always knew where everything was," she said. "He was a complicated, very bright, interesting person."
Besides his wife, he leaves a son, Michael Walsh of Swampscott; a daughter, Kathleen Sherkanowski of Swampscott; his mother, Joan (Dorsey) Menzies of Danvers; a brother, Bruce of Danvers; a sister, Robin of Wakefield; and three grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. tomorrow in the Church of the Holy Name in Swampscott. Burial will be in Swampscott Cemetery.
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