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Obituary of Martin Angus Charles MacDonald
Martin MacDonald of Bay St., Antigonish, passed away peacefully on March 3, 2025 at St. Martha’s Regional Hospital. Born in Antigonish on January 2, 1946, Martin was the son of the late Alexander Martin (“Stuffy”) and Muriel (née Brocklehurst) MacDonald. He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Penny (née Houlden) MacDonald, his son Jeff (Brigitte Pinard), his daughters Laura (Ryan King), Lisa (Mike Caesar) and Patricia (Michael Spacek), and his grandchildren Louis, Alexandre, Frédéric, Éléonore, Alexandra and Reggie. He is also survived by his sisters Mona (late Mike Cillis); Flora Ann; Hilda (Rick Urbanowich); his brothers Rod (Anne-Marie Dwyer); and Owen (Greta (née Grant) MacDonald; and 31 nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his daughter Jennifer (Rob MacIsaac); brother Howard (late Esther (née MacNeil) MacDonald; and sister Germaine (late Eugene Silver).
Martin was a passionate educator and inspired students and teachers near and far during his over 30 years as a teacher, principal and education policy specialist. He earned a diploma in education from the Nova Scotia Teacher’s College (1969), a special education diploma from Dalhousie University (1974), a BA from StFX University (1979) and Master’s Degrees in Education from StFX (1986) and Mount Saint Vincent University (1994). His first experience as a teacher was at Brookfield Junior High School, followed by nine years as a teacher and reading specialist at schools in the Antigonish Town and County School Boards. In 1984, he proudly started his career as an elementary school principal at H.M. MacDonald Elementary School (named after his great-uncle) in Maryvale. He subsequently became the principal of the elementary schools in Lower South River, St. Andrews, Heatherton, Tracadie, Havre Boucher, Mulgrave and Braemore elementary in Antigonish. In 1996, Martin became the first program coordinator for the newly-formed Strait Regional School Board and was seconded in 2000 to the NS Department of Education to lead the development and implementation of the Active Young Readers literacy initiative.
Martin was also active in education internationally as chair of the International Reading Association’s International Development through Literacy Committee, engaging with teachers from Hong Kong, West Africa and across Canada and the USA. His committee helped develop school libraries in the Caribbean and West Africa. He also worked as a consultant with the Ren’ai Educational Institute, a publisher of English language instructional materials in Beijing, China, and with Oxford University Press.
Martin was very involved in the Antigonish-area community, serving as President and Chief of Clans of the Antigonish Highland Society, Chair of the Naomi Society and the Saint-Vincent-de-Paul Society of St. Ninian’s Parish. He loved to play the bagpipes with the Antigonish Highland Society Pipe Band and the Clan Thompson Pipe Band as well as more informally with his friends Scott Williams and Gerald MacDonald in the 243 Piping Club. He enjoyed playing bridge with his partner Paul Arsenault and other friends at Club 60 in Antigonish. A proud descendant of the refugees of the Highland Clearances, Martin was active in community efforts to welcome new refugees and immigrants to the Antigonish area through helping organize sponsorships and directly supporting newcomers.
During his life, he was generous, useful, accomplished, loving and loved. He will be missed by his numerous friends, former students and colleagues, his large extended family, and members of the community.
The family is deeply grateful to the staff at St. Martha’s Regional Hospital for their professionalism, incredible grace and the excellent care given to Martin. A special thanks also to Jim Mulcahy and Terry O’Toole for the comfort they brought to him in his final days.
Cremation has taken place. A visitation will be held from 1:00 to 4:00 pm on March 7, 2025 in MacIsaac Funeral Home, 61 Pleasant Street, Antigonish. A graveside ceremony followed by a memorial service at Martin’s family home will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St-Vincent-de-Paul Society of St. Ninian’s Parish and/or the Naomi Society of Antigonish.
Thig crìoch air an t-saoghal, ach mairidh gaol is ceòl.
(The world will end, but love and music will endure).
1946 2025
Death notice for the town of: Antigonish, Province: Nova Scotia
death notice Martin
Angus Charles
MacDonald 1946 2025
obituaries notice Martin
Angus Charles
MacDonald 1946 2025
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Martin
Angus Charles
MacDonald 1946 2025 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.