PORT ANGELES — Dan Maguire, who served as Clallam County YMCA executive director for 13 years and was instrumental in starting the Port Townsend branch of the organization, announced to the board of directors Wednesday that he would resign.
Maguire, 55, agreed to stay on in the executive director position through September to allow the board time to find a new director.
He cited health and family reasons for leaving the organization, and said he was uncertain about his plans.
Maguire has had prostate cancer, and his wife, Judy Maguire, stomach cancer.
“My wife and I both had cancer last year, and there are still some really big health issues,” he said.
“It seems like it is a good time to take a break because this job is pretty demanding.”
Maguire said he’ll miss his job.
“It was incredible to work here. I could hardly wait to get to work every Monday morning,” Maguire said.
“I love doing the whole entrepreneurial thing, and then I feel so good, because what we are doing is making a difference in so many lives.
“It really is central to so many people’s lives. It is amazing to think about the kind of impact the YMCA has,” he added
“We’ve done really well and expanded quite a bit. I love being part of that.”
National search
A national search for a new director will be conducted with the help of the national YMCA program, president of the Clallam County Family YMCA board Gary Huff said.
“We were a little surprised,” Huff said. “But we understand.”
Huff declined to specify Maguire’s annual salary, and said the board had not yet determined a salary range for a new director.
Huff, who has known Maguire since moving to Port Angeles in 2000 and joining the board in 2002, praised his accomplishments.
“He started a new branch in Port Townsend that is very successful,” Huff said, referring to the Jefferson County Family YMCA, directed by Bill Kush, that was formed in 2002.
Huff said that Maguire also started the YMCA arts program, “and that is a whole new major program for the YMCA.”
“He was also the one who was responsible for opening the teen center which we ran about 12 years,” Huff added.
The teen center was closed last year due to financial reasons, but Huff said that the center was a major accomplishment for Maguire.
Said Maguire: “This community has been great. I came here, and I didn’t know a soul, but it turned out to be a great place to live.”
Board statement
The board released a written statement on Wednesday expressing sadness about Maguire’s exit.
“The Board of Directors and staff of the Clallam County YMCA were saddened to learn of Dan Maguire’s recent decision to resign from the YMCA,” it said. “But we respect and understand his decision.
“Dan will leave the organization much stronger than when he started in 1996, and can be very proud of his many accomplishments.
“During his 13 years as executive director, the YMCA budget size, number of programs, and the number of YMCA participants has tripled.
“We wish him the very best in his future, and thank him for his hard work and dedication to the YMCA and to our community.”
Huff said that the YMCA membership in the North Olympic Peninsula is about 8,000. The board is looking for a leader to continue to help the organization grow.
“There is a great deal of potential for growth here,” he said.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.
