Obituary of Daniel Maurice McDonald

January 28, 1931 - Calgary, Alberta

January 3, 2025 - Calgary, Alberta

Daniel (Dan) Maurice McDonald died in Calgary on Friday, January 3, 2025, at the age of 93 years.

Dan was born in Calgary on January 28, 1931, to Alex and Beatrice McDonald. He was the ninth of ten children. He led the rough and tumble childhood of a boy in a working-class family during the Great Depression. The escapades in his childhood were often set along the CNR railway tracks.

He graduated from St. Mary’s High School. During his school years he held many jobs. Most notable were as caddie and caddie master at the Calgary Golf and Country Club. He once caddied for British Open champion, Bobby Locke, and for Jack Benny. Dan excelled at golf throughout his life.

Dan also played Junior hockey for the Calgary Buffaloes and played football well enough to earn a tryout with the Calgary Stampeders.

He married Doreen Kennedy in 1951. Soon after that, they moved to Edmonton so that Dan could attend law school at the University of Alberta. He and a schoolmate/hockey buddy, Bill O’Leary, had decided on law school over medical school by tossing a coin!

From the 1950s to the 1970s, Dan was in private law practice. In the 1980s and 1990s, he was a Special Prosecutor for the Alberta Attorney General office, prosecuting commercial crime cases. Conviction rates increased significantly during his tenure there. He was awarded the title of Queen’s Counsel (QC), which recognized him as a leader in the legal profession.

During Dan’s working life, vacations centered around the family cabin at Christina Lake, BC. In retirement, he and Doreen spent several winters in New Zealand.

In his golfing life, he was a long-term member of Earl Grey Golf Club and was the President of the club in 1971. He was a 5 handicap in his prime and shot his age when he was 79.

Dan had a form of progressive blindness called retinitis pigmentosa. Late in his golf career, he played in blind golf tournaments in Canada and in the USA. In 2013, he was the American Senior Blind Golf Champion.

In 2021, Dan and Doreen moved out of their own home and into the Manor Village at Garrison Woods. He subsequently moved to Staywell Manor Village. Thanks go to all staff for the caring support that they gave him.

He is survived by his wife of 73 years, Doreen. He is also survived by his children, Dan Jr (Suzanne), Lynn Heming (Peter), and Maryanne Campbell (Jim); and his grandchildren, Coryn, Jamie, and Maddie. He was preceded in death by his daughter Colleen.

A Memorial Gathering for Dan will be held at the Earl Grey Golf Club (6540 20 St SW, Calgary, AB) on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, 15 Colonel Baker Place N.E., Calgary, AB T2E 4Z3 Telephone: (403) 261-7219.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Daniel’s family here.

In living memory of Daniel McDonald, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.