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Donald Hey Obituary
Margaret Ward (Bill Ward) of Middletown, CT.
Born in Kansas City, MO, to Louis and Lela Hey, Donald's boundless intellectual curiosity led him to a life full of adventures. After earning a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from University of Missouri-Rolla (now Missouri University of Science & Technology), he became an early Peace Corp volunteer, spending two years in Malaysia building bridges in the mid-1960s. He then earned a master's degree from the University of Kansas and a fellowship from the Ford Foundation, which took him to Nigeria, where he taught engineering.
After his fellowship, Donald spent the next few years traveling overland from Thailand through South Asia into Turkey, documenting the journey with thousands of photographs, souvenirs, and stories. Once he returned to the U.S., he completed a PhD in environmental science from Northwestern University and ultimately settled and built his family in Evanston, IL.
Donald founded several organizations in the domain of environmental restoration and ecosystem services. He and his colleagues pioneered innovations in flood-plain management and he worked tirelessly to help shape public policies to support safe and sustainable aquatic ecosystems-including testifying before the U.S. Congress in 1989. He spent the last decades of his career working to implement a market-based solution to improve water quality, which he called "nutrient farming".
Donald's vision, tenacity, and mentoring created the Dixon Waterfowl Refuge in Hennepin Township, IL and Neal Marsh in Wadsworth, IL. These vibrant green spaces are a living testament to his life's work.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Wetlands Research Inc. at wetlandsresearch.org or PO Box 225, Wadsworth, IL 60083.
A celebration of Donald's life is planned for late September. You may email [email protected] for more information. Make a donation to
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
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Bill Schubert
September 12, 2022
Don was relentless and selfless in his pursuit of environmental solutions. His creative and pragmatic approach impressed all who worked with him. We need more people like Don. May he rest in peace.
Laurene von Klan
September 6, 2022
Don was a creative thinker who expanded knowledge about how we might put the earth back together for the benefit of everyone. He was kind enough to share his wisdom with me during my Chicago River years and we even got to work on a project or two together. What great fortune I had to work with him. Thank you, Donald
Terry Judd
August 30, 2022
Donald improved the lives of so many people here in Hennepin with his untiring work to create the wildlife refuge. On top of that he was a first class gentleman. May he Rest In Peace.
Sheila Bartle
August 26, 2022
I did some writing for Donald over the past few years and not only learned a great deal about all things wetlands (and more), but so enjoyed his congeniality and generosity of heart and of thought. Deeply missed.
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Albert Ettinger
August 25, 2022
A real visionary
Bill Mitsch
August 21, 2022
So sad; he´s was great wetland ecological engineering and a. Great role model for me. RIP, Don!!
Margery al Chalabi
August 6, 2022
Donald Hey was a dear and long-time friend, with whom my late husband, Suhail, and I shared our deep commitment to our work; and to enjoying our time away from it. Donald introduced us to sailing the Great Lakes - with a search for the perfect sailboat and the formation of a five-person ownership of it. As he recounted in his farewell to Suhail, "The Windswept was a wonderful boat to sail in fair and foul weather. It was well balanced and rode the steep waves of Lake Michigan with little effort. Suhail provided the spirit of adventure and the enthusiasm necessary to acquire the boat and to sail the beautiful Lake Michigan."
And, you, Donald, provided the impetus to all of us to test our mettle on it. Sailing the Windswept was the perfect metaphor for our strong friendship - we often battled the wind and the waves; but, always respected the Lake and our encounter with it. Thank you, Donald. I will miss you.
Catherine O'Connor
August 5, 2022
Donald's commitment and passion for environmental conservation has been an inspiration to many. I am grateful to have learned from Donald and his life's work and legacy will endure.
George Covington
August 4, 2022
Donald was an inspiration. His energy and his commitment to the preservation and restoration of wetlands were boundless. He will be deeply missed.
Gene Kocian
August 1, 2022
I am providing our deepest sympathies on behalf of the Harza Engineering Alumni. I met Don in 1971 when I joined Harza and was happy to see him most recently at the Harza Alumni Luncheon in 2017. He was a great guy.
Jamal Alwattar
July 30, 2022
A great competitor in sport and a loyal friend. I will greatly miss Donald my friend.
Dick Lanyon
July 30, 2022
50 years of friendship and professional collaboration, knowing you Donald has been a blessing.
Charlie Pick
July 30, 2022
I met Don way back in my composting industry days in the 1990s. His passion for all things wetlands was inspiring, and I joined The Wetlands Initiative, which he co-founded with Al Pyott, about a decade later as a board member. Don will always be remembered a national leader in wetlands conservation and restoration. An early article about his restoration work in Wadsworth can be found here: https://www.martinezbeavers.org/wordpress/tag/donald-hey/
Rest in peace, Don.
john korzak
July 28, 2022
Donald will be Greatly missed!
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