Hired during Oakland University’s infancy in 1969 as assistant chancellor for the performing arts, John De Carlo played a key role in the growth and success of Meadow Brook Music Festival and the Meadow Brook Theatre. Serving as the first secretary of the Board of Trustees, vice president of public affairs, general counsel, and interim president, his tenure was one of dedicated service to the university and community at large.
De Carlo’s unwavering devotion to OU will soon benefit future generations. He and his beloved wife Mardell (who, sadly, passed away in October) provided a $1 million testamentary bequest for the construction of a visitor center at Meadow Brook Hall. Breaking ground this fall, the John H. and Mardell M. De Carlo Visitor Center will provide modern amenities and versatile spaces for the estate to expand and enhance its vibrant collection of tours, events, educational programs and community experiences.
“I have always been grateful for my experiences at Oakland and the association was always interesting, gratifying and challenging,” said De Carlo.
“John and Mardell have greatly supported us in our efforts to provide a relevant and impactful experience for our guests as we strive to establish Meadow Brook as a premier destination. We are truly thankful for this most generous gift,” said OU President Ora Hirsch Pescovitz.
With the exception of storage garages, Meadow Brook Hall – the Rochester home of the late Matilda Dodge Wilson and her second husband Alfred Wilson – has not undergone significant construction since the historic home’s 1929 completion.
The De Carlo’s passion for the arts, theatre and music is a lifelong journey. They attended many special events, holiday festivities and celebrations at Meadow Brook Hall with founder Matilda Dodge Wilson and the estate holds a special place in their hearts. The new visitor center will be a permanent legacy of their love of the university and their caring commitment to the community.
De Carlo holds a special memory of the first time he and Mardell were invited to dinner by Matilda. OU’s first chancellor Woody Varner and his wife were among the guests who were treated by Matilda to a personal tour of the home.
“Meadow Brook Hall is a unique facility and the university is blessed to have it. Mardell and I were there all the time. We did an extensive amount of entertaining at Meadow Brook with potential givers, benefactors and legislators. We would go for dinner then to a concert or the theater,” said De Carlo.
At a total cost of $2.7 million, the visitor center will expand behind the family garages in order to maintain the historic integrity of the estate buildings, while creating modern and functional spaces. It will also establish a new formal entrance to the estate.
HopkinsBurns Design Studio – an Ann Arbor-based architecture firm that specializes in historic preservation for properties such as the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island – has been selected to design the visitor center. Construction will be managed by Rewold & Sons of Rochester, Michigan. Owner Frank Rewold Jr. is the grandson of the company’s founder Frank Rewold , Matilda Dodge Wilson’s personal handyman, who built and repaired many of the structures at Meadow Brook and Oakland University.
January 11, 2024
By Catherine Ticer
