Mary and Don Cavalier will be honored as the first Experienced Americans of 2019 on Friday from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Golden Link. Sitting with the Cavaliers it becomes apparent that receiving recognition together is fitting as they joke and laugh together reminiscing about funny moments with their two sons, David and Todd, or the time Don sprayed himself with wasp killer instead of the wasp nest only to find out later a neighbor had already sprayed it for him. Even to the point that as a young married couple they were willing to potentially move across the state far from their North Dakota roots to work in a district that would hire both of them.
Don and Mary met in college in the ’60s and were married in 1966. After one-year teaching in separate districts, they began looking for a district that would hire both of them. “We met back in 1962 at Mayville State College,” said Mary. “He was a sophomore, I was a freshman. We went together for four years and were married in 1966. Don had started teaching sixth-grade and coaching baseball in Warren in 1965. Then when we were married he continued teaching in Warren and I taught one year in Stephen. We felt we would like to find a district where we could teach together and one of us wouldn’t have to be driving. We were fortunate enough to come across Crookston and they hired us both as elementary education teachers.”
It was a chance encounter that brought the Cavaliers to Crookston. Having found schools in Minneapolis, Orono, and Mound willing to interview both of them they were on their way back to Warren when they stopped for lunch at a café and as fate would have it Crookston Superintendent Roy Anderson would strike up a conversation with the pair said, Don. “After Warren, we came to Crookston,” said Don. “That was kind of an interesting situation with us having contracts offered from Minneapolis, Orono and another town there. We came and stopped for lunch in the café in Crookston. The superintendent, Roy Anderson, was in the café and asked us what we were doing. We said we were probably heading to the cities to teach and he said we have two openings in Crookston and asked whether we’d like to interview. So, we came back and interviewed and have been in Crookston ever since.”
Mary would teach for 46 years in Crookston, 35 full-time and another 11 as a substitute. “I taught my first year in fifth-grade at Eugene Field in 1967,” said Mary. “I taught one year of fifth-grade and then I went into elementary Phy. Ed. which was first through sixth grade traveling between all the schools for seven years. After that, I went back into the classroom with third grade and the fourth grade and a mixture of things after that for my 35 years. I retired in 2001 and then subbed for another 11 years.”
Don started as a teacher for a couple of years and then spent five years as a counselor in the district after receiving his master’s degree in guidance and counseling before spending 40 years at the University of Minnesota Crookston. “I taught sixth-grade,” said Don. “Then I went to the [Northwest Regional] Corrections Center for two years then to the University of Minnesota for the last 40 years and did a lot of different things there. It was a really good career out there. I loved it out there. It was a great place to work and I made a lot of good friends. And now we’re both retired.”
Both were involved in the community throughout the years as members of the Cathedral Catholic Church, Rotary, Jaycees, Lions, Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters among others. And both continue to be involved with Don winning a seat on the Crookston City Council this past November and Mary serving on the Polk County Committee on Aging. Being involved in the community and the friendships that are created has been some of their most impactful and memorable experiences in Crookston. “Being involved in the community,” said Mary. “The church community, and the City of Crookston community in different organization and committees we’ve worked on or with over the years. And of course all the people we’ve gotten to know. I know a lot of people say this, but it is true. Small towns are a wonderful place to raise a family and this has been a good town for our two sons and us. I guess the memorable things would be the people we’ve met and gotten to know over the years.”
Don, as he did all afternoon, agreed with Mary that a small town was best for their family because they didn’t have a commute cutting into their family time and that Crookston became home with lasting friendships. “I think Mary is right there,” said Don. “When thinking about living in a bigger town like the Twin Cities and so on it takes an hour to get to work. Here we can get there in five or ten minutes and that’s been a good thing for us and our kids. We have a lot of good friends in Crookston and we don’t move out because it’s home and we like to visit with our good friends.”
Don said they were both surprised when they were told they were going to be the Experienced Americans. “We want to thank the Golden Link for the honor,” said Don. “We were surprised because we don’t really seek to be honored. Thanks to the people of the city for helping us become better persons too.”
Mary said they were both honored and humbled while inviting people to join them for coffee and cake. “We’re both very honored and humbled with the recognition,” said Mary. “I think there are so many senior citizens in town who have been here who have been very involved with the city as well. It’s nice to represent that group of people because they are the foundation of the town. I would just like to invite everyone to the Golden Link. If you haven’t been there it’s a beautiful place, very well kept, nice and friendly. But come join us for some coffee and cake this Friday from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. We’d love to see you.”
