LAKE PLACID – The Mirror Lake Inn Resort and Spa in Lake Placid has announced that due to illness in his family, General Manager Carl Gronlund has decided to step down at year’s end to spend time with his parents.

The 27-year employee, who began with the Inn as its executive chef in 1989 before taking the director of operations position in 1992, told staff this week that his father is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Gronlund’s parents live in the family’s hometown of Hamilton.

“My wife and I are both from Hamilton and we’ve been trying to spend more time with both of our families and to help my mother care for my dad,” Gronlund said.

Gronlund will remain at the Inn through the holiday season, at which time, he and wife Catherine will relocate to the central New York community.

“We are very sorry to hear about Mr. Gronlund’s health and certainly understand Carl’s decision,” said Mirror Lake Inn owner Ed Weibrecht. “It will be difficult to see him leave us. Carl and I have worked closely over the years and enjoyed an unusually strong bond and working relationship. We are going to enjoy his company and leadership for a few more months and then his duties will be turned over and shared by our experienced management team.”

That is a group averaging 15 years per person at the resort.

“I’ve enjoyed being at the Mirror Lake Inn and was not planning on leaving,” Gronlund said. “But I’m happy to know that our talented management team and incredible staff will keep the Inn at the forefront of luxury resorts in the East. I will greatly miss the Mirror Lake Inn.”