In 1976, Director Richard “Dick” Ordway, his wife Janice, and a group of dedicated parents laid the foundation for the MDI Music Boosters at Mt. Desert Island High School. Dick Ordway passed away in 2024.
DICK ORDWAY REMEMBERED…
In loving memory of Dick Ordway, inspirational mentor and friend. Many of my best high school memories involve the band room, the Cherry Blossom Festival, and laughing with Mr. Ordway. He had a way of making us all feel like part of the music family.
In memory of the great Dick Ordway. His legacy lives on through his students. His warm demander stance made us confident, loved, and inspired.
Dick was a college classmate, colleague and friend. I’ll always appreciate and admire his musicality, conducting and “rough & tough” personality.
This is a small token of our thanks for the gift of Dick Ordway to MDI and the musical lives of our children. Fair winds and following seas, my friend
For Mr. Ordway – An extraordinary man who made a difference in all of our lives. Thanks for being “that teacher” who left an indelible good mark on us!
A DICK ORDWAY STORY…
Having this man and his wife in my life was a gift growing up. I started playing the flute for Mrs Ordway in 4th grade, and the cello in 5th. Mr Ordway was always there, watching us grow and waiting for us to join his program in HS. When we finally got there, I tried to quit the cello, so I didn’t sign up for orchestra during first lunch; instead, I had homeroom. On the first day of school, sitting in Home room, my name was called over the intercom to please report to the band room. I was 13, wide-eyed and with zero self-confidence as a new freshman, and had no idea why I was hearing my name. I looked at my HR teacher, and they said go, so I headed down, terrified I was in trouble. As I walked into the band room, the entire orchestra asked me (together) to please play the cello with them. I wanted to sink into the floor at so much attention directed at me, but I was also stunned by the feeling that maybe my contribution to something mattered. That I mattered. He didn’t stop there of course. Two years later, he told me he needed French horn players and that he thought I could do it. So what did I do? I picked up a completely different instrument and learned to play it. Because he thought I could, I thought I could. By my senior year, I made All-State on that instrument. All because of him, and his belief in me. That was what Mr Ordway did. He made each and every one of us think…KNOW we mattered. We were important. We were exceptional. We were valuable. As individuals, we had value, and together we were unstoppable. We could do anything. We played pieces that symphonies played, and we were GOOD. He created a safe space to be yourself, but in the most un PC way possible, lol. Oy vey. Irreverent is the only word I can think of – HA! You had to know him to know what I mean, but he was beyond a character; he was a force of nature. We have lost a beautiful human and musician who gave every student he touched the gift of music, of feeling it in their souls, of being a part of something bigger than themselves, and of being important. His legacy on this island and in this state lives on in every one of us, can be heard in symphonies, felt in classrooms, and in each of us that nurtures the potential they see in a child, or even just loves music and shares that love. See you up there someday, Mr Ordway, we will love and miss you always.
Note: There are very few photos of Dick Ordway. If you happen to have one, particularly if it’s from back when he was at MDI, please share it with us. Email to the boosters: contact@mdimusicboosters.org.