DONALD GILBERT MACDONALD

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DONALD GILBERT MACDONALD Donald Gilbert Macdonald, 86 of Halifax, passed away April 15, 2012 at the QEII - Infirmary Site. Born in Benbecula, N. Uist, Scotland, he was the only child of the late Rev. Donald and Rachel (MacKinnon) Macdonald. As a child growing up in Islay, his first language was Gaelic and his free time was spent fishing and sailing. Educated at Marr College, Troon and Glasgow University Medical School. He served in the Royal Navy as Surgeon Lieutenant and saw action in Korea and the Far East. While serving in Hong Kong he met his future wife and was married there. Upon discharge from the Royal Navy, he practiced family medicine, primarily in Yorkshire, England. In 1966 he immigrated, with his family to Winnipeg where he was a family doctor. Because of his knowledge and love of the sea and ships, he was selected to join the Canadian Survey Ship Baffin as medical officer, where he took part in the exploration of the Northwest Passage and circumnavigation of North America in 1970. Upon completion of the voyage, he opened a family practice in Prospect Bay and was also a consultant for the Workers' Compensation Board of Nova Scotia. He then accepted a position with the Federal Government as Director of Environmental and Occupational Health for the Atlantic Region from which he retired in 1990. He enjoyed his summers at the cottage in Kingsport, NS with his family and his little dog, Ginji . He is survived by his wife, Dorothea Macdonald (Annett); daughters, Anne Thompson (Andrew), Rona Macdonald (Rod Tilley), both of Halifax; grandchildren, Geoffrey Donald Peladeau, Daniel Gilles Peladeau, Iain George Thompson, all of Halifax, Robert Donald Thompson, Toronto. Cremation has taken place under the direction of Atlantic Funeral Home, 6552 Bayers Road, Halifax from where a memorial service will be held 6:30 p.m. Thursday evening, April 19. A reception will follow in the funeral home. The family wishes to extend thanks to the nurses of the Red Cross, VON and all other caregivers that made his last months more comfortable. He wished any donations to be made to Missions to Seafarers or the Salvation Army. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.atlanticfuneralhomes.com and selection the Halifax location.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 17, 2012