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With family and friends at his side, Colin Dale “Mac” MacDonald died quietly on March 31, 2008 from complications following a 5-year unsuccessful battle with prostate cancer. He was 73. Mac maintained a positive attitude and a wicked sense of humor until the end. Dearly loved, he will be greatly missed.
At his request, there will be no services. Rather, there will be a remembrance celebration with “live ragtime music and good food” at a later date to be announced.
Mac was born Jan. 9, 1935, in Grand Forks, North Dakota to Edna Beaton and Colin C. MacDonald.
He graduated from Central High School in Grand Forks in 1953, and later received a bachelor’s of science degree from the University of North Dakota and did graduate work at the University of Michigan.
Mac came to Sacramento in 1970, Married in 1980, he and his wife Nancy lived in Houston 1985-87, returning to live in Carmichael, CA until the time of his passing. He supported and took great pride in his wife’s career as a quiltmaker and fiber artist.
An actuary, he worked with Acacia Life Insurance Company, CalWestern Life Insurance Company, American General Life Insurance Company, and CalFarm Life Insurance Company.
His greatest joy was his involvement with Ragtime music. Mac was a long-time member of the Sacramento Ragtime Society and served as their webmaster for some years. He sequenced hundreds of midi-files and made them available to others on his own website: ragtimemusic.com. Previously he was webmaster for the Mother Lode Ragtime Society and the West Coast Ragtime Society. Although not a performer, he loved listening to others play his beloved rags. He was particularly interested in supporting the Youth Program of the Sacramento Ragtime Society. To honor him, both the Sacramento Ragtime Society and the Sutter Creek Festival will be dedicated to Mac this year.
He is survived by his wife, Nancy Elliott MacDonald, daughter Kathrine Elizabeth MacDonald DeSio of Sacramento, CA; son: Robert Burns MacDonald of Lincoln, CA; stepsons Daniel Robert Sandy of Redding, CA, and William Elliott Sandy of Bridgeport, CA; brothers Donald Bruce MacDonald of Grand Forks, North Dakota and Richard Wallace MacDonald of Peoria, Illinois; grandchildren Luke, Gabrielle and Nicholas DeSio of Sacramento, CA, Cecil and Mark MacDonald of Lincoln, CA, Desmond and Hannah Sandy of Redding, CA; and nieces Bonnie MacDonald of Grand Forks, North Dakota, and Debbie Quirk and Vickie Lovell of East Grand Forks, Minnesota.
Remembrances in his name can be made to the Sacramento Ragtime Society Youth Program (WCRS Youth Program, P.O. Box 13346, Sacramento, CA 95813-3346) or the American Cancer Society or charity of your choice.
Copyright 1994-2001 by Colin D. MacDonald All rights reserved.