Bruce A. MacDonald, 87, of Manchester, MA passed away in the early hours of Wednesday December 4, 2024 at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers. Son of the late Alexander and Alice (Patch) MacDonald, and widower of the late Marcia (Thompson) MacDonald with whom he shared 51 years of marriage, Bruce was a lifelong resident of Manchester.
Bruce was a civil servant in it’s true meaning. At age 18 in 1955, he joined the US Navy and served for 8 years as a Tin Can Sailor aboard destroyers, culminating in his participation in the Cuban Missile Crisis assigned to a ship patrolling the Caribbean around Cuba and the Bay of Pigs.
Upon discharge from the US Navy, Bruce joined the Manchester Fire Department in 1963, serving the Town until his retirement in 2001. During that time, he worked his way through the ranks, eventually being named Chief of the department in 1997. He was a graduate of North Shore Community College Fire Science and Technology program and the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy. Before being named Chief, he was instrumental in unionizing the department members and served as a department EMT.
While serving on the fire department, he worked many part time jobs including insurance inspector, carpenter, library custodian, and estate caretaker. His true passion was woodworking and eventually started his own company, Seaside Woodworkers. He took on many small projects for members of the community and was very passionate and meticulous about his final product.
Upon retirement, Bruce continued his Seaside Woodworker business, joined the grounds crew at the Essex County Club, and rekindled his passion for vegetable gardening. The most important part of retirement was joining the volunteer group at the WWII destroyer, Cassin Young, located next to the USS Constitution at the Charlestown Navy Yard. This group of volunteers became his best ‘shipmates’ in retirement. Their weekly gatherings were very important to him where many of the world’s problems were solved.
Bruce’s attention to detail made him excellent in the vegetable garden where every year, he grew way too much product and Bootstraps of Beverly and The Danvers People to People Food Pantry were the beneficiaries. It was here that he met his new best friend and fellow widower, Pauline Crampsey. They became very close and worked together in their respective gardens and took adventures all over New England, laughing all the way.
Other organizations that Bruce was involved with over the years include, but are not limited to, many local and state fire chief’s associations, Manchester Lodge A.F. & A.M., Aleppo Shriners, Tin Can Sailor Association, USS Cassin Young Crew, American Legion Post 113, Seaside Fireman’s Club, The Manchester Club, and Troop 3 BSA. He also served on the Manchester Housing Authority for many years. He was also a supporter of many charities including Wounded Warriors, Francis Ouimet Caddie Scholarship Fund, American Diabetes Assoc., American Cancer Society, Disabled Veterans, among others.
Bruce was a proud family man, with family being the nucleus of his being. He was very proud of the many accomplishments of his sons and grandchildren. Bruce is survived by his sons, Bruce A MacDonald Jr and his wife, Janet Parisella of Danvers and David A. MacDonald and his wife Kathleen of Peabody. Three grandchildren, Brian, Kathryn, and Timothy. Bruce was predeceased by his wife of 51 years, Marcia (Thompson), sister Carol, and brothers William and Robert.
In leu of Flowers, please make donations in his name to Seaside Fireman’s Club Scholarship Fund, Manchester Club Scholarship Fund, The Plummer House for Boys in Salem, USS Cassin Young Association, Bootstraps of Beverly, The Kaplan House in Danvers, or the charity of your choice.
His funeral service will take place at the Campbell Funeral Home, 525 Cabot St. Beverly, MA on Wednesday, December 11, 2024 at 10AM. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Interment to follow at Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Manchester, MA. Information, Directions, Condolences at www.CampbellFuneral.com.
