Donald Lee MacLeod

To all those who met him casually Donald Lee MacLeod would strike them as very quiet and unassuming, but the details of his full life tell a more interesting story. After his childhood in Saskatoon and high school years in Montreal he obtained his Architecture degree from McGill having contributed to University life through music, sports, and as a member of the Scarlet Key Society. Having been taught piano at an early age by his mother Don shared his musical talent and inspiration with many through the years, playing saxophone, singing in choirs, and later in life playing keyboards in a jazz ensemble. An avid chess player he achieved Master status, and other intellectual pursuits included computer programming from early CAD to more theoretical aspects which greatly interested him.

More remarkable though was his predilection for surprising life decisions. As a young man, with two infants and Sondra soon expecting another he embarked on a working trip to England which then expanded to include travel through most of Scandinavia, before settling down with his family in Nova Scotia. After working as an Architect in Halifax for some years he again accepted an opportunity for adventure, this time moving with Sondra to Yellowknife where, in his spare time from managing government Architectural projects there, he played softball, arranged music, volunteered with Search and Rescue, and learned to fly small planes, contributing to that essential activity in the region and to the piloting community in general.

I choose though to mostly remember my Dad for his quiet guidance and for sharing his joy of life as a young father who took his family on camping trips where he would entertain them with activities like impromptu cipher games traced in the sand on the beach or intricately planned orienteering challenges. Only his family experienced his ability to tell a long meandering joke of which the punch line was the least memorable part, or bedtime readings from Winnie the Pooh featuring deft transitions between each character's distinctive voice. Never one to express opinions with haste his humble approach to life, his dedication to family, and his admirable work ethic will always be an inspiration to those who knew him.

~Christopher MacLeod, September 2025