Donald Wagner ’54

Donald Wagner ’54 passed away January 14, 2023, in Cornelius, North Carolina. Donald came to Dartmouth from New Britain (Connecticut) High School. He majored in sociology and was a Green Book staff and a Players member. Following Dartmouth he attended the University of Pennsylvania, earning his master’s in city planning in 1957. He was then named a Fulbright scholar and studied in Sydney, Australia, in 1957 and 1958. Donald enjoyed city planning and was director of planning for several cities across the country, including Youngstown, Ohio; Lowell and Cambridge, Massachusetts; and Elgin, Illinois. While in Cambridge he worked on the location of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, an important addition to that city. A passionate and excellent home cook, Donald opened the Little Mermaid Café in E. Dundee, Illinois, during his time in Elgin. He based the menu on dishes he found during his travels throughout Europe after his Fulbright scholarship. Donald enjoyed entertaining friends and family, was an avid gardener all his life, and devoured crossword puzzles but his greatest joy was being “Grandpa.” His presence and quiet demeanor will be missed by all who knew and loved him. Donald is survived by his wife of 55 years, Nancy, daughter Laura, son-in-law Matthew; and grandchildren Amelia, Betty, and Iain.