Joseph McDonald

McDonald, Joseph Francis—89, beloved husband of Elizabeth Ann McDonald (nee Johnson) and father of three. Joe was born in Manhattan in 1937 to Joseph A. McDonald, a lawyer, and Louise Cruger Muth. He spent most of his childhood in Pelham, NY, along with younger sisters, Louise (Toots) and Ruth. A star athlete, he was handsome, smart, and gregarious-- the apple of his parents’ eyes. At Amherst College (Class of 1958), Joe played football, made lasting friendships, and met his wife, Betty (Mount Holyoke ’59). He flew fighter jets, including the F-8 Crusader, in Marine Corps squadron VMFA-333. While at University of Michigan Law School, he suffered the unexpected loss of his father. Joe and Betty settled in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, where they raised their children. Joe was a partner at the firm of Lord Day & Lord; and later Morgan, Lewis and Bockius. He contributed time to many organizations he valued including the Vera Institute of Justice, the Manhattan Bowery Corporation (Project Renewal), New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, and Education through Music. Ever an athlete, he frequented the Downtown Athletic Club and the Heights Casino. More than anything, Joe loved playing and having adventures with his kids, grandkids, and best friends Ted and Betsy Wheeler. He was always up for fishing, clamming, sailing, windsurfing, golfing, and exploring trails. He loved yard work, fudging his way through home repairs, berry picking, baking bread, dinner tables full of family and friends, fires in the fireplace, and playing games. Joe took great pleasure in playing the piano and singing at home for his family, prioritizing feeling over perfection. He got his hands dirty in all pursuits, whether sweating pipes in a crawlspace or eating jelly donuts. Unafraid of conflict, he was a fierce defender of the underdog; he was loving, generous, supportive, humorous, fair-minded, and fun. After the loss of his beloved wife in 2012, he struggled valiantly to embrace a more solitary lifestyle, focusing on being the best possible grandfather and enjoying the outdoors. He remained vigorous and active into his 80s, but Alzheimer’s Disease gradually took its toll. He died peacefully in the company of family on April 12, the fourteenth anniversary of his wife’s passing. He is survived by his sisters, Louise Foy (Bill Foy) and Ruth McDonald; his children Alex McDonald (Denise McDonald), Devin Vinson (Jonathan Vinson), and Molly McDonald (Bill Krattinger), and his grandchildren, Milo and Otis McDonald, Elias and Cormac Vinson, and Annabel and Joseph Krattinger; as well as his much-loved nieces and nephews and their children. His epic energy, love, and smiling blue eyes will be greatly missed by friends and family.