Born: July 29, 1922
Died: February 14, 1998
Married: Jeanne Russell Guggenheim; Virginia Weeks
Children: Donald Russell, Deirdre Moreau
Donald R. Moreau was a businessman. He owned the former E. L. Gray Book Store from 1955 to 1960 and in 1960 he founded Moreau Fuel Company, which he operated until 1988 when he sold it to Griffith Oil. He was also actively involved with horse show events, including the Lake Placid Horse Show, and kept horses on his lake property.
The camp Charles J. Swain built in 1917 became the property of Jeanne Guggenheim after her divorce from Edmond A. Guggenheim in 1952. Jeanne married Don Moreau in 1953. She died in 1980. Don Moreau married Virginia Weeks in 1984 and he died in 1998. Don and Virginia built a new Lindal cedar house on the lake shore on another part of his property, and sold the old "Swain camp" house to Fred and Kay (Leetch) Roedel. The Lindal cedar home is now the property of Neil and Carolyn Hopkins. The old boathouse was sold to Joe Sestak and now is the property of Charles and Alex Morse. (See Swain and Steele Camp for more on this property.)
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, February 16,1998
Donald R. Moreau
SARANAC LAKE - Donald R. Moreau, 75, of Lower Saranac Lake, died Saturday, Feb. 14, 1998 at the Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake.
Born on July 29, 1922 in Dannemora, he was the son of Philip J. and Elsie (Dubrey) Moreau.
He was married to Jeanne Russell Guggenheim in 1953. She died in 1980.
On Feb. 11, 1984, he married the former Virginia Weeks.
Mr. Moreau was a graduate of Mount Assumption Institute in Plattsburgh and Albany Business College. A veteran of World War II, he served with the U.S. Air Force in the Pacific Theatre at Tinian Air Base, where he assisted in the loading of the first atomic bomb used in warfare.
He was employed by Plattsburgh Motor Service, and in 1951 he became sales manager and part owner of the Saranac Lake branch. He purchased the E. L. Gray Bookstore, which he operated from 1955 to 1960. In 1960, he founded Moreau Fuel, which he operated until 1988 when he sold the business to Griffith Oil.
He also operated a harness and horse racing equipment business for 10 years.
Mr. Moreau was a member of the General Hospital of Saranac Lake and Adirondack Medical Center from 1978 to 1993, and he was chairman of the board for three years; a member of the Finance Committee and the Development Committee; and a medical staff coordinator. As Chairman of the Building and Grounds Committee, he oversaw the $4 million hospital expansion project.
Mr. Moreau was a member of the Adirondack Bank Board of Directors from 1979 to 1993, and he served as the secretary of the board; chairman of the Building and Grounds Committee; and chairman of the Finance Committee. While he served as an officer of the bank, he supervised the bank's renovation project.
He was a member of the DeMoine Rod and Gun Club of Quebec; the Draper Hunting Club of Conifer; the Saranac Lake Fish and Game Club; and the No Miss Hunting Club.
He was a member of Elks Lodge 1508; the U.S. Combined Horse Training Association; and he was the district commissioner of the Pony Club for 10 years. He raised dogs and horses.
Mr. Moreau was actively involved with three-day equestrian eventing; and he laid out and operated the Lake Placid Horse Show courses for seven years.
He was a member of the Boy Scouts of America Adirondack Council and a member and coach of the Pee Wee Hockey Association from 1965 to 1970.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing, boating, cooking, camping, politics, and law. He operated a sugarbush and made his own maple syrup.
Survivors include his wife; a son and daughter-in-law, Donald Russell and Hisha Malik Moreau of Danbury, Conn.; a daughter, Deirdre Moreau of Reno. Nev.; two brothers, Gerald Moreau of Saratoga Springs and James Moreau of Modus, Conn.; four stepchildren, Malinda Chapman of Ticonderoga, John Bergamini of Oslo, Norway. Herbert G. Bergamini of Seattle, Wash., and Michael V. W. Bergamini of Dallas. Texas, one grandson; eight stepgrandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother, Philip Moreau.
Calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p m . Wednesday at the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake. A memorial service will be announced later.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Adirondack Council, Boy Scouts of America, the Adirondack Medical Center, or St. Joseph's Rehabilitation Center, in care of the funeral home.
