Macdonald, A. Laird Col. (Ret.)
An officer and a gentleman - that sums up the life of A. Laird Macdonald. Born in Amherst, N.S. in 1920, Laird lived an amazing life. He moved to Toronto in the late 1920's and attended high school at De La Salle. With war approaching, Laird joined the Canadian Armed
Forces in 1940, a career that spanned the next 35 years. And what a career he had. Moving through Italy in his tank with the B.C. Dragoons, Laird was captured and interned as a POW in Germany. Released at the end of the war, Laird stayed with the forces. His was an impressive career with tours in Korea, Laos and serving in increasingly senior positions at Supreme Allied headquarters in Belgium and with intelligence duties at headquarters in Ottawa. Rising to the rank of Colonel, he retired in 1975. Through this, he met the love of his life, Margaret Hinds, and they were married in 1954. Partners in life, they had a wonderful journey of 50 years until Margaret died in 2004. Laird continued with discipline and humour, living independently to the end.
Laird passed peacefully on Friday, February 6, 2015 at University Hospital in London Ontario. Beloved husband of the late Margaret Hinds. Predeceased by his father and mother Senator John A. McDonald and Alice T. Mcdonald, brothers J.D.A. (Jack) Mcdonald, Gordon M. Mcdonald and Derek Mcdonald and sisters Greta Tindale and Jean Coliton. Will be sadly missed by many to whom he was uncle and great-uncle and particularly to Graeme, Linda, Courtney and Lauren Tindale, Roy and Barbara Megarry and John Bird. Visitation at Steckly-Gooderham Funeral Home, 30 Worsley Street, Barrie from 8:30am for one hour. Funeral mass will be held from St. Mary's Church, Barrie, Ontario on Thursday, February 19, 2015 at 10 AM. Interment to follow at St. Mary's Cemetery, Barrie, Ontario. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario http://www.lhsc.on.ca/Ways_to_Give/LHSC/index.htm or the charity of your choice through the Funeral Home.