Donald Peter John MacDonald

It is with great sadness that the family of Donald Peter John MacDonald announce his passing on the morning of Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at the age of 73.

Don is survived by his wife of 43 years, Dianne MacDonald (née Gardiner), his daughter Amber Harbridge and his son-in-law Gary Harbridge. Don was the proud Papa to three grandchildren, Allison, Owen and Avery Harbridge. He is also survived by his sisters Beverly MacDonald, Christine Gundeson (Niels), Cheryl Smith (Ken), his sisters-in-law Brenda Gardiner and Janis Wadsworth, and many nieces and nephews. Don was predeceased by his parents John and Olga (Omelchenko) MacDonald and brothers-in-law Allan Gardiner and Bill Gardiner.

Don was born in North Battleford, Saskatchewan. At the age of 13, he moved with his family to Edmonton Alberta, where he made lifelong friends through the Jasper Place High School Rebels Swim Team. He swam competitively throughout high school and later joined the Edmonton Piranhas Water Polo Club. He worked as a lifeguard and a swimming instructor throughout his teenage years. In August 1969, his water polo team competed in the Canada Summer Games where they were awarded a bronze medal. His love of swimming and water polo continued throughout his life, and he had the opportunity to compete with some of his former teammates at the World Master Fina Aquatic Games in California in the summer of 2006. After graduating from Jasper Place High School in 1969, Don spent one year at the University of Alberta, But Don had an adventurous spirit and decided he wanted to travel before settling into a career. He spent much of his 20s travelling around the world, visiting many places including Australia, the South Pacific, Europe, and the Caribbean. During his travels, he worked odd jobs to earn money, including stints picking tobacco in New Zealand and training dolphins in the Bahamas. His travels gave him countless stories to tell for years to come. In 1976, Don completed a Marketing Management Diploma at NAIT. In 1979, Don moved to Vancouver, BC. A few months later, in April 1980, he met Dianne Gardiner at a dance in Point Roberts, Washington. After a whirlwind romance, they got engaged and married on July 11, 1981, at the Gardiner homestead in southwestern Ontario. Not long after they married, they moved from Vancouver to London, Ontario, where their daughter Amber was born in 1986. During this time, Don earned his CGA certificate, and in December 1988, Don and his family moved back to Edmonton, Alberta, where they spent the next 33 years. Don spent the majority of his career working as an accountant and later, as an investment advisor. Don cared deeply for his family and friends and always made himself available for a coffee, a dinner out, a game of racquetball or squash, or to lend a helping hand. In 2013 after the birth of his first granddaughter Allison, Don became “Papa Don”. He took his role seriously and loved to spend time with his grandchildren, whether it was teaching them to swim, taking them to the park, watching their baseball games and dance recitals, or playing a game of checkers. He was a proud father and Papa who supported his daughter and grandchildren with any endeavour. Don will be deeply missed by all who loved him but will live on in our memories and stories for years to come.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, December 13th at 2:00 pm at Westlawn Funeral Home, 16310 Stony Plain Rd. in Edmonton, Alberta. The family is sincerely grateful to the staff at Eden Intermediate Care Home for their care in Dad’s last two years.

In lew of flowers, the family requests donations made in honour of Don to The Salvation Army or any other organization of your choosing.