Alexander Anthony MacDonald

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Alexander Anthony MacDonald, 97, of Westmount, NS. Alex passed surrounded by family on October 17, 2022. Born in Glace Bay, he lived most of his life in Castle Bay, N.S.

Alex was a force of nature. A man of remarkable character, knowledge, talents, work ethic, kindness and humour, he was a role model and mentor to generations of immediate and extended family. His instinct was always to help, and he selflessly took care of people all his life, from his mother, brothers and uncle to his nieces, nephews and cousins to countless others in need of assistance - and he did so with energy, flair and good humour.

While Alex had all the manual labour skills necessary to sustain a productive life on a rural farm in the era before electrification, in his day he became the equivalent of a modern hotshot computer programmer, courageously venturing from the tiny hamlet of Castle Bay to the bright lights of Toronto in 1956 to study electronics at the Radio College of Canada. He was employed in Ontario for a short time before finding his working vocation back home in Cape Breton; for years, he was a television and radio repair man in the Sydney area, notably as the owner of Tartan TV and later co-owner of Ashby Radio. Few individuals have enjoyed a more productive retirement. Into his mid-nineties, Alex kept up a relentless pace that would have challenged those 3-4 times younger.

He was a founding member of Féis an Eilein and an active participant in Cape Breton’s Gaelic community (becoming a keen student of the Gaelic language). He built his own sailboat and ice fishing hut, a garage and renovations to his residences, cultivated a garden, learned to prepare a wide variety of foods (he was especially famous for his biscuits) and travelled the Atlantic Provinces visiting relatives and friends. Alex was an independent thinker and a voracious reader of non-fiction, and he also kept well abreast of news and current affairs.

He could recite stanzas of poetry memorized in his youth and was sometimes known to change the words of a poem or song for mischievous comic effect. He had a wisecracking sense of humour, delighting in poking good-natured fun at loved ones and in recounting amusing true stories from the old days. He enjoyed playing cribbage and forty-fives and thought nothing of staying up until 2 or 3 in the morning for a competitive round of partners crib. He followed the Blue Jays and would watch curling and the occasional hockey game. A confirmed bachelor, he married Kathleen (Kay) at the tender age of 74 and they settled into a happy life together.

Alex is survived by: his wife, Kay (née MacDougall); stepdaughter Dorothy (Al) and her 4 children; nephews and nieces Kevin (Robin), Electa, Juanita and Leon (Sherri); 2 grandnieces by Kevin, 2 grandnieces by Electa (one named after Alex) and a grandnephew by Leon; and several godchildren (a testament to the esteem in which he was held). He was predeceased by: his parents, Daniel and Catherine (née MacInnis); and siblings, Angus and Dan.

Visitation to be held at T.W. Curry Funeral Home on Monday, Oct 24th, from 2-4pm and 7-9pm and at Christmas Island Community Center (former St. Barra’s Parish) on Oct 25th from 7-9pm. Funeral mass to be held at St. Columba Parish Church, Iona on Oct 26th at 11am with Fr. Victor and Fr. Doug Murphy officiating, followed by interment at St. Barra Parish Graveyard, Grand Narrows and gathering at Christmas Island Fire Hall. In lieu of flowers, donations in Alex’s memory may be made to the SPCA. To leave condolences and memories please visit www.twcurry.com.