John died peacefully at home, surrounded by his 3 daughters. He lived a “big life” with vivacity, winning hands of bridge based on his idiosyncratic bidding, right til the end. He engaged everyone he met – he was charming, irascible, irreverent and infinitely curious.
He was born in Kelowna, BC. The family moved to Victoria in 1926, where he attended Monterey School, Oak Bay High School and Victoria College in Craigdarroch Castle.
After obtaining an honours degree in Math and Physics at UBC in 1941, he joined the army. He was commissioned and served in Canada and the UK as signal officer in various military units. He landed in Normandy on D-Day and finished his service in Holland. In 2005, he returned to Holland to celebrate the 60th anniversary of VE Day.
He met and married Sheila Anne Duggan of Toronto in 1950, beginning a happily married life of 61 years.
John completed a MSc at UBC and a PhD in physics at the University of Toronto and then spent 7 years in the Radiology Department of Toronto General Hospital. He accepted the position of Chief Physicist in the Cancer Centre in London Ontario, where he stayed until his retirement in 1985. During this time he held adjunct professorships in physics, biophysics, radiation oncology and medical imaging at the University of Western Ontario. He mentored many, his research was widely published and he travelled around the globe to share his expertise at international conferences.
John was on the team that pioneered a radiation therapy for cancer which, years later, was used to treat his own cancer. In his retirement, he helped develop devices to calibrate x-ray machines and helped countries develop radiation safety protocols.
John retired to Victoria in 1986, where he was a legend at Uplands Golf Course and on the tennis courts. Until Sheila’s death in 2011, John and Sheila cruised the world, often with sister-in-law Lois, returning with countless stories and new friends.
John is survived by his daughters – Sandy McBride (Terry) Alison Rose (Michael) and Jeannie MacDonald (Ian Ferrie); grandchildren – Todd (Allessia) and Callum (Katie) McBride, Chris Rose (Helen), Miranda Annett (Harry) and Simon Rose (Kim Nicholas), and Johanna and Colin Ferrie; and great-grandchildren – Sophie, Desmond and Seamus Annett, Matthew Rose and Shay and Frankie McBride. Among the many who are missing John are nephew Cam MacDonald and all of the much-loved Duggan cousins as well as special friends Rachel, Gary and Dorothy and his esteemed lunch bunch.
Thanks to Dr. Eugene Leduc, John’s friends and the special staff at Carlton House and some very caring helpers from Serenity Home Care.
A celebration of John’s life will be held on Saturday, January 19th, 2019 from 2-4 pm at Uplands Golf Club. In lieu of flowers, donations would be gratefully received by BC Cancer. Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of John Campbell Forrester MacDonald 24 September 1920 6 November 2018..
Death notice for the town of: Victoria, Province: Colombie britanique