John M. McDonald

John “Jack” Michael McDonald, 87, of Lebanon, passed away Saturday, January 29th at SpangCrest, Lebanon. Born in Palo Alto, PA, March 30, 1934, he was a son of the late Matthew and Verna Roeder McDonald. He was an incredible athlete in high school and was inducted into the Pottsville High School Hall of Fame. He boxed, ran track, and played basketball, baseball and football. He went on to play football for Muhlenberg College, where he was awarded the prestigious Maxwell Award twice, and upon graduation had several offers to play professionally. He was inducted into the Muhlenberg College Hall of Fame in 1994. Ultimately, he decided to turn those offers down and went on to serve in the United States Army. However, his excellence in athletics was recognized when he was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2014, for both Football and Track. After his service in the Army, he went on to run several successful businesses such as Cleaver Brooks, Printed Terry, Brandywine Recycling and Demford Manufacturing, until his retirement. However, retirement didn’t last long for Jack, as he loved to keep busy, so he took a job at a Maguires Nissan dealership, to occupy his time between playing golf and reading books. He was a devout Catholic and a member of the St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Lebanon. He was preceded in death by his brother, Matthew McDonald, in 2018. Surviving are his loving wife of 67 years, “Connie” McDonald, Lebanon; one daughter, Erin McDonald wife of Mark Hamrick, Princeton, NJ; a sister, Joan M. wife of Lawrence Fredericks, Palo Alto, PA; a granddaughter, “Kate” E., wife of Henry Foskett, Jersey City, NJ; as well as nieces and nephews and long time best friend Tom Schaffer. Per Jacks’s wishes, there will be no service held. Rohlands Funeral Home, Lebanon, is in charge of arrangements.