It is with much sadness the family announces the peaceful passing of Donald W. MacDonald on May 30, 2022, at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital in Sydney, NS, surrounded by his family.
Donald was born 1929 in New Waterford. He was predeceased by his parents, Murdoch J. and Georgina (MacLeod) MacDonald.
Donald was a devoted, loving husband and father and leaves behind to mourn his wife, Isabel (Gillis) MacDonald; his brother, Nelson and sister, Helen, both of Toronto; his sons, Evan of Halifax and Bruce and his wife, Bonnie; his daughter, Belle and her betrothed, Eric Hoogwerf, all of White House, Yukon; and his beloved grandchildren, Allister, Ashton and Kaitlyn MacDonald. He also leaves behind his stepchildren: daughters, Peggy Murchison (Earl), Elaine Hayes (Pete) and Holly Bolivar (Bryden); sons, Carter Hayes (Paulette) and Jamie Hayes (Kelley); 12 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Donald attended Central School in New Waterford and Morrison High in Glace Bay. As a young man his quest for sea life started when he helped build the Seal Island Bridge in Bras d’Or. He began his working life in Glace Bay, but moved on to work in Ontario. This is where he began sailing on the Great Lakes. He mainly did that kind of work throughout the rest of his working life, along with on shore at various times.
Donald and the family lived for many years in his family’s ancestral home, which was located in River Bennet along the North Shore of the Cabot Trail in Cape Breton.
As for his seafaring life, he did various jobs on a variety of vessels including on a number of fishing trawlers (as an Engineer) in eastern Canadian waters. He sailed along the North American seaboard and even as far as the Panama Canal, also the North Atlantic and spent a number of summers sailing the Canadian Arctic (Beaufort Sea). Although they normally served Eastern Canada, he made his longest sea going voyages on Marine Atlantic ships crewed by Marine Atlantic personal. During this time, he sailed to the Persian Gulf in support of the American Sealift Command to bring supplies and equipment to the US Armed Forces in Saudi Arabia (Operation Desert Storm). He retired as Second/Chief Engineer from Marine Atlantic 1993.
After he retired, Donald’s zest for knowledge continued. He enrolled at UCCB (CBU) where he received his Bachelor’s Degree graduating in 2000. Donald was a long-time member of AA and was a mentor to many. He embraced modern technology and loved sports, baseball being his favorite. He loved to listen to Classical and Jazz music and “Alexia” became his new best friend. He was also an avid reader and throughout his years, he had travelled the world.
Throughout his retirement, Donald lived in Sydney with his wife, Isabel and came to have considerable contact with her family. During those years, the family came to be of immense help to both he and Isabel, especially in their later years.
Cremation has taken place. There will be no visitation. A private family service will be held. Interment will take place in Hardwood Hill Cemetery at a later date to be announced.
Words of comfort can be sent to the family at www.sydneymemorialchapel.ca or email sydneymemorialchapel@ns.sympatico.ca
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Donald William MacDonald 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Sydney, Province: Nova Scotia