Remembering our dear friends Sheldon Goldthwait and Cliff Olson
- Kathryn Strand
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
The Preserve honors the lives and legacies of two wonderful individuals who brought out the best in people with their kindness, humility, and warmth. Their presence will be profoundly missed at the Preserve and across Mount Desert Island.
Sheldon Goldthwait, Jr 1938 – 2026
Sheldon’s deep roots on Mount Desert Island shaped a lifetime of service, connection, and quiet leadership.
He served on the Preserve’s board of directors with distinction for 22 years, from 2000 to 2022, guiding the organization through a period of enormous growth and change. He played a central role in refining bylaws, strengthening committee charters, and building sound financial frameworks. Those who worked alongside him cherished not only his organizational acumen but also his sharp insight, sense of history, and perfectly timed dry wit.
Beyond board work, Sheldon was often found outdoors, volunteering at Thuya Garden and with the trails crew to help maintain the Preserve’s hiking trails and carriage roads.
Preserve Board Chair Kate Macko remembers Sheldon.
Sheldon’s influence on the Preserve is woven quietly and enduringly into the fabric of this organization. For more than two foundational decades, he offered steady judgment, deep historical perspective, and principled leadership. Personally, he was also a trusted mentor and a family friend who I wholly admired — reserved, perceptive, and wickedly funny. Sheldon was committed to Mount Desert Island, and to the institutions, industries, and relationships that knit this community together. He understood that caring for a place means showing up for it — in the boardroom, on the trails, and in the everyday work of community. It was a privilege and a lot of fun to serve alongside him, and he will be deeply missed.
Cliff Olson 1942 – 2026
Cliff was a many-year member of the Preserve’s Lands & Trails Committee and volunteer on the trails crew. His commitment to stewardship extended beyond the Preserve. He was a vital force for the Northeast Harbor Village Improvement Society, where he both maintained and built trails that countless neighbors and visitors continue to enjoy. We are also grateful to his wife, Kathy, who welcomes visitors as a garden greeter at the Preserve.
Preserve Land Steward Ed Hawes offered this personal remembrance of Cliff.
I had the honor of working with Cliff for nearly a decade on the trail and carriage road network of the Land & Garden Preserve, and recently on trails with the Northeast Harbor Village Improvement Society. During the Preserve's volunteer days, Cliff's smile would ignite the small crew gathered at the trailhead, awaiting the day’s project. His extensive experience and authentic joy for his work reminded us of the beautiful world we work hard to protect, and the true reward of giving back to this community.
We would talk extensively about this island's trails and history while on projects for the Preserve. He seemed to know every twist and turn of the landscape, every rock outcropping and viewpoint along its current and abandoned paths. I admired his attention to detail in describing trail structures, from bridges to stone features, many of which he helped build and maintain.
It wasn't uncommon to see Cliff roaming the trails, saw strapped to his pack, solo or with Kathy, determined to clear the corridors, yet again, for safe passage, or hanging bread bags to mark a secret viewpoint he’d found and wanted to share.
His quiet, persistent dedication was unmatched and had a ripple effect on the outdoor community and beyond. Calm like the streams, reliable and solid like the mountains he climbed.
You will be missed, Cliff, and thank you for your guidance. Your spirit lives on through every twist and turn, and project dedicated to our island's trails.
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