John T. McDonald

John McDonald, 54, passed away of cardiac arrest on February 20, 2017 at his home in St. Johns, with his wife by his side. He was born May 26th, 1962, in Bethesda, Maryland, and lived since 1978 in Jacksonville, Florida. He graduated from the University of North Florida with a degree in business administration and began a career in hotel management with Red Roof Inn. While in college, he and his friends formed a local band, Voyager, and for the rest of his life he loved creating music, a passion he often shared with his father, Capt. Edwin E. McDonald Jr. He played the piano, guitar and sang, and his greatest musical passion was the blues. John married his Orange Park High School sweetheart, Deanna Toske, and they were together from that day in 12th grade until the end. After his daughter Erin Elizabeth was born he retired to devote full-time attention to her and the family. He loved his music, his friends and family, his time at Crescent Beach and his loyal West Highland Terrier, Gizmo. He is survived by his wife Deanna Marie McDonald, daughter Erin E. McDonald, mother Kathleen McDonald, and brothers Edwin E. McDonald III and Thomas R. McDonald. Family requests memorials in John’s name be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at https://www.stjude.org/donate or the Humane Society at http://www.humanesociety.org/donate Family will receive friends on Friday, February 24, 2017 from 3pm-6pm with reflections and words of comfort from Rev. Sha’Reef Rashad at 4pm in Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home of Mandarin. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home of Mandarin, 11801 San Jose Blvd. Jacksonville, FL 32223. www.hgmandarin.com (904) 288-0025.