Founding partner of Duluth Folk School passes away

DULUTH, Minn. — One of the founders of the Duluth Folk School, Tim Bates, has passed away.

Since the inception of the school Bates, along with those around him, worked hard to establish a comforting environment where people could learn new skills.

Bates was also a long-time figure within the University of Minnesota-Duluth’s outdoor education program, where he taught students all about some of his favorite things, like how to
care for the world, and people, around you.

“Tim taught me so, so much about giving to the community that you’re a part of about joyfully sharing what you know about treating people with kindness and respect,” said Mark Lavalier, a board member with, and friend of, Bates.

Those who knew Bates the best say that he’d likely want them to continue on just as they have been, because there’s more projects to do, and more people to meet.

“He definitely would want everybody to carry on, and work on projects, and learn more things, and get outside, and probably above all, to doggone be decent to each other,” said Carmel DeMaioribus, the school’s executive director who founded the school alongside Bates.

“I think that that he was very decent and compassionate, and I think that that would be part of his message too,” said DeMaioribus.

The folk school also says that if people want to help remember Bates, they should stop by the space and look around, as almost everything at the school has his fingerprints on it in some way or another.