Obituary of Donald King Pendleton

Donald K. Pendleton Obituary Donald King Pendleton, 85, of Islesboro, Maine, passed away peacefully at his home, with his wife and his dog by his side, on March 10, 2020. Donnie’s long, full life was defined by his genuine interest in people, his love for the island, and his boundless curiosity. He was always ready to share his knowledge and lend a hand. Donnie was an integral part of the Islesboro community, spending most of his life there as part of the large Pendleton clan that settled the island in the 1700s. After graduating from Islesboro Central School, he went on to attend the University of Maine (class of 1952) and then The Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania, where he earned his MBA. He then proudly served for two years in the U.S. Army Ordnance Corps. After his service, he returned to Islesboro and became a driving force in its economic and business development. He began by working in the family general store, F.S. Pendleton & Co.; they soon bought the Williams Brothers Market (renaming it The Village Market). In the mid-seventies, working with his sister and brother-in-law, Judy and Jack Coffin, they built a new, larger general store and hardware business, which they ran successfully until selling it a decade later. In 1961, Donnie became a licensed realtor and started Islesboro Realty. So began his 59-year illustrious career in the industry, introducing new families to the island and working in property development on and off the island. In 2009, he joined Legacy Properties Sotheby’s International Realty in Camden as senior vice president, where he found great pleasure in the companionship of his fellow brokers and gratitude for the support they offered over the years. Real estate was one of Donnie’s passions, combining his love of meeting new people, of the nuances of business, and especially of Islesboro. That love for the island came through in his incredible knowledge of island history and land. He knew every cove, every cemetery, the story of every family, and the name of every landowner since the island was settled. It was a great joy for Donnie to raise his two sons, Rod and Ted, on the island—to share the history, the land, and the family and community with them, to teach them to hunt, fish, and sail. Donnie was many things throughout his life—a butcher, a pilot, an entrepreneur, a Mason, a traveler, an early adopter of technology. He was a self-taught musician and one of his great joys was playing piano or drums or trombone or guitar with the Charlie Pendleton Band. He was also the captain of any boat he stepped foot on, and loved cruising the bay and visiting islands with his wife, Diane, and a boat full of family and friends in their 36-foot Jarvis Newman Picnic boat, the Evamay. He did almost everything with a beloved dog by his side. Most especially, though, Donnie was a beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather, and friend. Donnie was predeceased by his mother Evamay (Kelly) Pendleton, his father Donald Edwin Pendleton, his sister Judith (Pendleton) Coffin and his brother-in-law and close friend Jack Coffin. He is survived by his wife Diane Head-Pendleton, his son Donald Roderick (Rod) Pendleton and daughter-in-law Denise Pendleton, his son Edwin Pyam (Ted) Pendleton and daughter-in-law Emily Pendleton, his stepdaughter Amy Green, his stepson Alex Head and daughter-in-law Lari Bishop, his grandchildren—William Pendleton, Harrison Pendleton, Isaac Pendleton, Pyam Pendleton, Marshall Green, Peter Green, Harper Head, and Gideon Head (who all called him Grandpa Duck)—his caregiver and dear friend Earlene Gallant, and his dog, Grace Kelly. In consideration of current events, a celebration of his life will be held over the summer. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Islesboro Community Fund (www.islesborocommunityfund.org).