Donald Ewan Macdonald

Dr. Donald E. Macdonald of Charlotte died on October 4, 2016 at the age of 90.  The only son of the late John B. and Mrs. Mary Macdonald, Donald was born in Dundee, Scotland on April 15, 1926.   Educated at the Morgan Academy, Dundee and Blairgowrie High School, he entered the University of St. Andrews Medical School and graduated in 1948.  Following an internship at Dundee Royal Infirmary he served for two years with the rank of Captain, Royal Army Medical Corps as Regimental Medical Officer with the King’s African Rifles in Kenya and Uganda.  It was during his army service that he married his wife Dorothy Flanagan, RN, who preceded him in death.  After completion of his military service Dr. Macdonald worked for one year at Westgreen Mental Hospital near Dundee before accepting a position at the John Umstead Hospital at Butner, North Carolina in 1952.  He completed his residency training in psychiatry at North Carolina Memorial Hospital in Chapel Hill and became board certified in psychiatry in 1962.  In his later years he was elected a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.  He was appointed the Medical Director of the Mecklenburg County Community Mental Health Center in 1962 and subsequently entered private psychiatric practice in association with the late Drs. Paul Donner and Fred Adickes.  In 1969 The Randolph Clinic, an alcoholism treatment center was established by the Mecklenburg County ABC Board and by virtue of his previous experience in alcoholic rehabilitation while at Butner Dr. Macdonald was appointed the Director of the new program.  In 1981 he left that position and served as medical director of a number of community mental health centers including those located in Asheville and Winston-Salem.  In the years prior to his retirement in 1996 he was medical director of the Union County Mental Health Center and became a life member of the North Carolina Medical Society.  Donald was a talented musician, and was one of several piano players at the Cajun Queen Restaurant.  He was a founder member and pianist of a Sing-along group which met regularly since 1968.  But his great love was the theatre organ which he began playing professionally while still a medical student.  He was a member of the American Theatre Organ Society and the British Cinema Organ Society.  He was also an accomplished writer, and his published short stories ranged from humor to horror.

Dr. Macdonald is survived by his son Stephen D. Macdonald of Charlotte, daughter Sheila E. Donatelli and husband Anthony of Charlotte, grandson Anthony L. Donatelli of Washington D.C, grandson Justus A. Donatelli and wife Heather of Indian Trail.  

A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Vincent dePaul Catholic Church on October 10, 2016 at 10:30 AM.    In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Hospice of Charlotte, 7845 Little Ave. Charlotte, NC 28226.  www.hpccr.org.