Maine Wonderland: The Way it Was

HISTORY - FAMILY - MAINE

Jean Marie Ivey moved to Maine with her family in April of 1966, to become part of the National Park Service Family at Acadia. Her daughter Donna Marie Lee was nine years old, and her youngest daughter, Alice Menzietti-French, who helped illustrate this book, was born five months later. Ironically, she is co-illustrating this book about The Way Things Were. Tony Jr. nicknamed Tono, was born in 1968. The family lived in the Rockefeller gatehouse at Jordan Pond. Thus, began their love affair with Acadia National Park and Mount Desert Island. As well as being a full-time mother of seven, Jean Marie pursued a part-time career in photography and freelance illustrating, co-authoring the book Maine Paradise with Russell D. Butcher, published by Viking in 1972. She worked at The Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor as a Biomedical Technologist for thirty-three years and is now devoting her time to writing and art. She also has fourteen grandchildren and three great grandchildren that fills her heart with joy.

Donna Marie Lee spent three summers at Ecole Arcadie, a private, total immersion French school, graduated from Mount Desert Island Highschool, earned a Bacherlor of Arts from Smith College and a Master of Divinity from Andover Theological School. She developed her storytelling abilities while researching cultural history - both for her own enjoyment, and for sharing with others in her given profession as a Congregational minister. She also shared her vast knowledge of the Island answering visitors' questions while living and working in the Park and in various Island communities for most of her life.

Alice J. Menzietti-French pursued her love of art and music while a student at Mount Desert Island High School. After graduation, she continued her education at the University of Maine at Augusta, leading to a career as a professional musician including performing as a jazz vocalist. She worked for several years at Thuya Gardens, using her skills as a gardener and now is working at the Jackson Laboratory in Maine.