For Dean Malencik, conservation is more than a passion; it’s a lifelong value shaped by family, memory, and time spent in the outdoors. A retired biochemistry professor and researcher with Oregon State University, Dean has dedicated his legacy to conserving the lands, waters, and wildlife that have influenced his life.
Dean’s wife, Sonia Anderson, shares his deep connection to the natural world. A respected scientist and devoted conservationist, Sonia is a 40-year member of Ducks Unlimited and is especially fond of Labrador retrievers. She and Dean spent many years hiking together through state wildlife refuges with their beloved Labs, enjoying the wild places that she and Dean cherish. Sonia’s long-standing support for DU and love of the outdoors has been one of Dean’s motivators, and it has helped shape his own philanthropic vision.
Another profound influence on Dean’s conservation values was his brother, William “Bill” Malencik. Bill served as a district manager with the Bureau of Land Management and was an avid outdoorsman. His passion for hunting, fishing, and public lands left a deep mark on Dean. After Bill passed away last year, Dean honored his brother’s memory by donating Bill’s cherished collection of waterfowl decoys, classic duck prints, and firearms to DU. The donation included hand-carved decoys, a matched pair of AYA shotguns, Browning and Beretta shotguns, and two custom rifles.
Dean’s own love of the outdoors leaned more toward fishing. He began tying flies while attending the University of Notre Dame, eventually creating over 50,000. His craftsmanship earned the admiration of angler and writer Joe Brooks, who featured some of Dean’s flies in one of his books.
Although Dean is a more recent donor to DU, his ties to the organization are deeply personal and long-standing, rooted in Sonia’s decades of involvement and in Bill’s legacy. Now, through his trust, Dean has committed his estate to supporting the conservation efforts of DU and other organizations.
Through their generosity, Dean and Sonia are creating a lasting conservation legacy, one that will leave the world a better place for waterfowl, wildlife, and people. For more information on how you can leave your own legacy of conservation, contact Chris Cole, senior director of gift planning, at ccole@ducks.org.
