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Donald E. McDonald, Jr
Donald E. McDonald, Jr., 90, of Ipswich, loving companion of
Jill Hitschler and husband of the late BirutaN. (Briedis) McDonald, died
Saturday, May 23, 2020 in the Lahey Medical Center in Burlington
following a brief illness.
Born in Syracuse, NY on January 3, 1930, he was the son of the late Donald
E. and Eva I. (Negus) McDonald. Don was raised in Syracuse and was a
graduate of Syracuse University. During the years of the Korean war,
he served with the US Air Force in Germany and England as an avionics
repairman. While in the service, he was a member of the Air Force Swim
Team and after was on the Syracuse University Lacrosse team and Boxing
Team.
Married
in 1958 in Syracuse, the McDonalds made their home in Ipswich in1975. His
professional career was that of a terminal manager and sales director of
several trucking freight companies. He ended his long career with Boston
Buffalo Express, retiring in 2007. Don had a second and concurrent career
as a college, semi-professional and professional hockey referee, as well
as an extended career as head college lacrosse referee and later a men’s
high school referee. He concluded his refereeing career as a women’s high
school and youth referee well into his 70’s. He was also an accomplished
craftsman and fine woodworker. He built furniture and had mastered the art
of marquetry. In the outdoors he enjoyed biking, kayaking, fishing,
clamming and oystering in the local waters.
He was a longtime member of the Ascension Memorial Church in Ipswich.
Don is survived by two sons, Mark F. McDonald and his fiancée Lori
Frank of Topsfield, Craig D. McDonald and companion Lucie Draper of
Lowell; six grandchildren, Rebekah Field of Ipswich, Renee McDonald of
Florida, Brenda McDonald of South Weymouth, Kirsten McDonald, Claire
McDonald and Lily McDonald all presently of Wilmington. He is also
survived by two great grandchildren, Rueben Field and Corey LaBrecque; a
brother, Brent, his wife Mary Jo McDonald and children Alex and Alicia of
Florida and British Columbia and special friends Monty Hitschler, his
wife Jodi Hitschler and daughter, Chloe Hitschler of Beverly. He was
the brother of the late Bruce McDonald and his surviving wife Vivian
McDonald and their son Edward McDonald of Rochester, New York.
A
private funeral service with military honors will be held graveside in the
Cowles Memorial Cemetery, Ipswich. Arrangements by the Whittier-Porter
Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions in his name may be
made to the Ascension Memorial Church, 31 County St., Ipswich, MA 01938
and or, Care Dimensions, Ste. B-102, 75 Sylvan St., Danvers, MA 01923.
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