Stephen Vincent McDonald

Stephen Vincent McDonald of Metairie, LA passed away on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at the age of 83. Stephen was born on May 27, 1941 in New Haven, CT to Vincent and Zaida McKenzie McDonald. Steve will always be remembered as a kind, caring, thoughtful and intelligent son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend. He was fun to be with and had a great sense of humor. Steve was always up for a good time and especially loved a great horse race or a trip to New Orleans or Las Vegas to gamble and play craps.

His childhood in Stony Creek, Connecticut, with his extended family of grandmothers, grandfathers, aunts and uncles, was full of fishing, crabbing, clamming and building docks. He was happy in and on the water so it is not surprising he would later use his considerable engineering and mathematical talents to advance sonar technology.

He attended Hopkins School in New Haven, CT where he made lifelong friends. After graduation from Yale University, with a degree in Engineering, in 1963, he started his career at Sikorsky Aviation Corporation in Stratford CT. He later earned his Master's Degree in Business from UCLA.

He transitioned to the Bendix Corporation in Los Angeles which later became Allied Signal and eventually was bought by Honeywell. Throughout his career, Steve held many Director positions in Engineering, Marketing, Production and Program Management where he was responsible for creating and building military systems. He traveled the world with members of the U.S Navy developing sonar applications for anti-submarine warfare and was granted patents for some of his inventions.

Upon retirement, Steve’s passion for horse racing and everything about race horses was the inspiration for him to purchase and develop a handicapping publishing service, Handicapper’s Report, covering Southern California racetracks which utilized his keen skills and intellect to create a popular site for trainers, handicappers and horse race lovers everywhere! He owned over 40 winning race horses, among his favorites were Dixie Law, It Matters Not, and Gimme Some More. Recently, Steve acted as the Ca representative for the Bridlewood Farm for Journalism in the Santa Anita Derby and was looking forward to attending the Derby to watch him race.

Stephen was preceded in death by his parents Vincent and Zaida; his children, Sean Stephen McDonald and Sandra Constance McDonald Evans; his sisters, Jane Oakes and Marilyn Benson; his step-son, Ryan Wilson; and his wife by first marriage, Constance Miller.

He is survived by his loving wife of 30 years, Teresa McDonald; his brother, William McDonald (Mary-Ellen), niece Susie McDonald (Alex Pine,) nephew Christopher McDonald (Greg Lizotte); brother, Michael McDonald, niece Kenzie Kahliq (Mujib), Mica McDonald; his son-in-law, Jeff Evans; brother-in-law Robert Oakes, nephews Bob Oakes (Jacque) and Gary Oakes (Trinh); brother-in-law Doug Benson, nieces Jessica Duffy (Bob), Vanessa Benson. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Kayleigh Goodick and Stephen McDonald; his great grandchildren, Maleigha McDonald and Eddie Goodick; his stepson, Justin Wilson (Carrie), granddaughter Breanna Wilson; sister-in-law Brenda Cornette and his wife by second marriage, Nancy McDonald. Steve is also survived by several great-nieces and great-nephews.

Memorial services are being planned for this summer in Stony Creek, CT and Del Mar, CA.