Donald Graham Macdonald

Donald Graham Macdonald was born in the remote mining town of Brittania, BC to proud parents Ralph Crawford and Lucille Graham. Although premature and quite small, Don gained health and size quickly and grew into an active, happy boy. He remembered family homes in Kitsilano and then Kerrisdale, where he lived until he completed university, surrounded by neighborhood friends and activities.

While receiving his B.Eng. in Chemical Engineering from UBC (1964), Don met Mary Louise Copp whom he married in 1964. Don and Mary lived in Montreal and San Francisco before settling in North Vancouver to start their family. Jeffrey Todd (1967) and Tracy Merrin (1969) were both born into Don and Mary’s Lions Avenue home where many happy years passed. The family also spent 3 years in Dover, MA, as Don worked on a significant project to explore decaffeination methods and plant siting.

In his long and gratifying career, Don held a series of successful and progressively responsible positions across a range of reputable organizations that culminated in executive leadership at Nabob Foods. In his final role as Vice President of Manufacturing and General Manager, Swiss Water Division, Don excelled at operations, marketing, and strategy, and is remembered by colleagues as a fair leader and a wise, patient mentor.

While at Nabob, Don met Sandra Morrison who later became his second wife and widow. Don and Sandra shared 35 years of love and companionship during which they traveled, golfed, raised dogs, traded stocks, gave charitably, and settled on Vancouver Island where they developed lifelong friendships. Don and Sandra’s relationship was mutual and beautiful until the very end.

Don is remembered by a wealth of friends, family and neighbors for his kind, gentle manner; intelligence; generous way with all people; fondness for animals; clever wit and wordplay; strong moral compass; honesty; integrity; and his “sweet soul.” Many looked up to Don, and many more will miss him.

Don is survived by his adoring wife Sandra, son Jeff, daughter-in-law Lynette Logan, daughter Tracy, granddaughter Tula Mendez, close cousins Kavan Smith (wife, Corinne, sons Isaac & Max) and Joanna Symmonds, and other extended family members. He died at home peacefully with his family beside him.

No formal services for Don are planned. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of these charities: Dying With Dignity Canada, Alzheimer Society of Canada, or Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.

We love and miss you Dad/Don/Grandpa/Gruncle. Thank you for all your gifts.