Stuart Fuller MacDonald Jr.

July 7, 1946 - May 9, 2026

Stuart "Gus" Fuller MacDonald, Jr. was born in Boston, MA on July 7, 1946, to parents Stuart and Barbara MacDonald. He grew up with sisters Sandra and Laurie in Wellesley, MA on Crown Ridge Road. The generational summer home of Bustin's Island, Freeport, ME became his lifelong sanctuary. It was here that a passion for sailing, sailboat racing, and all things nautical began and only grew throughout his life. (Gus would pass his passion for this magical place onto his sons and grandchildren.) Another true love, music, took root early and helped sustain him through his years. Buddy Holly was his first hero and kickstarted a desire to play guitar. Learning from his records, Gus became a fine and tasteful musician.

Gus attended college at Nasson College in Sanford, ME from 1965-1968. It was there he met Carol Leary MacDonald, whom he would marry in October of 1968. They remained married for the next 46 years. Together, they raised two sons---Stuart, born in 1975 and Benjamin, born in 1977. As a family, they enjoyed many summers on Bustin's Island as well as exploring the Maine Coast. Carol passed in 2014 after a heroic battle with diabetes.

After graduating from Nasson in 1968, and moving to Portland with Carol, Gus joined the Coast Guard for a few years. He loved his time with his station, and it only further enforced his love for being on the ocean. He then apprenticed with Bill Rice at Maine Compass Service adjusting nautical compasses. This inspired Gus to look towards the Land Surveying trade and soon he was calibrating survey instruments for Maine land surveyors. He founded Maine Surveyors Service in 1974 and branched out into sales. Gus grew his company (with the help of many talented people) over the next 40 years to serve the entire New England/New York region. He sold the renamed business Maine Technical Source to his son Stuart in 2017.

An avid sailor and seaman, Gus had many adventures with close friends and crew. On his beloved 35' Hinkley Pilot "Panacea", Gus raced in Bermuda Races, sailed transatlantic routes to Newfoundland and the Azores---even mastering celestial navigation and sailing home solo. He also cruised up and down the Maine Coast every summer possible, and was proud to have been invited to join the prestigious Cruising Club of America in later years. These stood out as particularly special memories for him until the end.

In 2019 Gus met and married Bethany Thoman of North Yarmouth. He loved her dearly and her care for him as he declined with dementia stands as a true testament to enduring and selfless love. Other caregivers include Diane Hills who was so patient and kind to Gus as he fought this cruel disease. The MacDonald Family extends our deepest gratitude to her.

Gus is survived by sisters, Sandra Colburn, and her husband Malcolm of South Freeport; Laurie Clark and her husband David of Bath, their son David and his wife Chelsea, and grandsons Milo and Charlie of Texas; his wife, Bethany of South Freeport and stepson A.J. of Arizona; sons, Stuart and his wife Jennifer of Yarmouth; Ben and his wife Meghan of Pownal. He is also survived by grandchildren Delia, Mary, Guthrie, and Charlie.