John C. McDonald

JOHN CALLANAN MCDONALD

John C. McDonald died peacefully at home on Saturday, April 12 at the age of 94. John lived most of his life in upstate New York, specifically the Adirondack Region, which he loved for both its spectacular beauty and tight-knit community. Known for his deep baritone voice, he was a selfless public servant devoted to his community and to his family.

John was born in Plattsburgh on May 15, 1930, and was the eldest child of Thomas and Helen McDonald. At age nine, following the untimely death of his father, who was then the District Attorney for Essex County (having served in that position for 12 years), John began attending Camp Dudley in Westport. Camp Dudley was a formative experience for John, as he met campers from a variety of backgrounds and regions throughout the United States. There, influential camp leaders nurtured his love of the outdoors, athletic competition, and reading books of all kinds. Notably, they instilled in him the importance of service, which he practiced for his entire life through Dudley’s ethos and motto, “The Other Fellow First.” John, known at Dudley as “Mac,” often recounted fondly his many summers at the camp, reveling in his pursuit of hardy outdoor activities, telling of lively campfire stories, achieving athletic successes, and experiencing an intense sense of place. He easily recalled his Camp Dudley number (5875), whenever asked!

John graduated from Port Henry High School, and, as an outstanding athlete was recruited for a post graduate year at the Irving School for Boys in Tarrytown, where he played football, basketball and baseball. He then matriculated at Dartmouth College, class of 1952, at the urging of both the Dartmouth football coach and his mother. John excelled at Dartmouth, majoring in history, and playing for both the varsity football and basketball teams. He was active socially on campus and was a member of both the DKE fraternity and The Sphinx. John cherished the friendships he made at Dartmouth, many of which endured for his lifetime. After Dartmouth, John was invited to try out for the Baltimore Colts football team, but chose instead to enlist in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War.

Following his service in the Marines, John graduated from Albany Law School in 1958. He then married Anne Evelyn Burleigh on August 20, 1964, at St. Mary’s Church in Ticonderoga. Over the next decade, John built a private law practice in Essex County, providing legal advice on a variety of matters and serving as attorney for the villages of Port Henry and Ticonderoga and the town of Hague, at different times. In 1972, following in his father’s footsteps, John was appointed by Governor Nelson Rockefeller to the office of District Attorney of Essex County.  He was then successfully elected (and reelected) to the position six times, serving until he chose not to run for reelection in 1993. He returned to private practice for the remainder of his career.

John loved the outdoors, especially fishing and hunting, and enjoyed nurturing a sometimes-bountiful vegetable garden. He also loved Dartmouth football and would attend nearly every home football game possible at Memorial Field, where he was known to organize spirited tailgate parties. He followed Ivy League football standings closely and spent considerable time scouting local athletes in upstate New York for the benefit of his alma mater. John celebrated his 70th Dartmouth reunion in 2022 and was thrilled to be recognized and honored by the college.

John supported his local community through service in leadership roles for decades. He served on the Board of the Ticonderoga Black Watch Memorial Library and was its President for over 45 years. For more than 50 years, John also served as both President and Chairman of the Board of AuSable Chasm, a renowned tourist attraction in the hamlet of Keeseville, co-founded by his maternal grandfather, Francis Callanan. He was a member of the Board of the Stephen J. Potter Foundation, a grant making institution based in Ticonderoga, also serving as Chairman. Additionally, John was a member of several clubs and local organizations, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the Marine Corps League, the Elks Lodge, the Knights of Columbus, the Northern Lake George Yacht Club and the Gooley Club, among others.

John is survived by his wife, Anne B. McDonald, his children, Mary P. McDonald, John C. McDonald, Jr. (Andrea) and Bridget McDonald Fawcett (Donald), and four grandchildren - Margaret K. McDonald, Anna C. McDonald, Elisabeth B. Fawcett, and Rudd C. Fawcett. He is also survived by his brother, Thomas McDonald. He is predeceased by his sister, Helen McDonald; his brother, Michael McDonald; and his granddaughter, Meredith A. McDonald.

A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 26 at St. Mary’s Church, Ticonderoga, New York.  Burial will be at Valley View Cemetery, immediately following. Donations in memory of John Callanan McDonald may be made to the Ticonderoga Black Watch Memorial Library, 99 Montcalm Street, Ticonderoga, NY 12883, or to a Camp Dudley scholarship created in his honor: The John C. “Mac” McDonald Scholarship Fund at the Camp Dudley Foundation, Inc. 126 Dudley Road, Westport, NY, 12993; or www.campdudley.org/giving. 

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