U.S. Navy veteran; call firefighter for over 50 years
Published in the February 15, 2017 edition
LYNNFIELD — Alan R. Macdonald, 77, of Lynnfield, formerly of Wakefield, died suddenly on Saturday, February 11, 2017 at the Union Hospital in Lynn.
Born in Boston on March 28, 1939, he was the son of the late Walter and Eleanor (Nason) Macdonald. He was also the brother of the late Grant Macdonald.
Mr. Macdonald was a graduate of Wakefield High School, Class of 1957, and had attended MIT prior to serving in the United States Navy Submarine Service from 1958–1964. He was a semi-retired self-employed sales representative.
Mr. Macdonald served on the Wakefield, Lynnfield and Newbury Fire Departments for over 50 years. He served on the Wakefield Fire Department as a call firefighter from 1954–1977. He served the Lynnfield Fire Department from 1981–2009, achieving the rank of Lieutenant and Fire Alarm Superintendent. He had just recently retired from the Newbury Fire Department having served there for more than a decade.
Most recently, Lt. Macdonald served on the hiring committee for the Lynnfield Fire Department where he was instrumental in selecting the next generation of call firefighters. Lt. Macdonald was active in numerous fire service organizations including the Essex County Fire Chiefs Association, Past President Box 52 Association, Lynnfield Firefighters’ Relief Association, SPAAMFAA and MAFAA.
Mr. Macdonald is survived by his beloved wife of almost 30 years, Anita Rassias, his two daughters, Melissa M. Dascoli and her husband Joseph of Wakefield and Melinda M. McCabe and her husband Mark of Dublin, Ireland, and his three cherished grandchildren, Thomas and Zachary Dascoli and Emma McCabe.
He is also survived by his two nephews and niece, John Macdonald, and his wife Ellen, Robert Macdonald and his wife MaryAnn, and Laurie Reeder and her husband Steve, along with their children, Andrew, Meaghan, Daniel, Colin, Devin and Joseph Macdonald, and Allie and Grant Reeder.
Visitation for relatives and friends will be held at the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave., Wakefield, on Friday, Feb. 17 from 2 to 6 p.m.
A firefighter walkthrough is scheduled for 5 p.m. His funeral services will be private.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Lynnfield Firefighters’ Relief Association, 59 Summer St., Lynnfield, MA 01940, or to Kaplan Family Hospice House ℅ Care Dimensions, 75 Sylvan St., Suite B-102, Danvers MA 01923.
