Gerald C. F. MacDonald

Gerald C. F. MacDonald passed away on December 10, 2021, at the age of 97. Born on May 25, 1924, to Eva and Hazen MacDonald, in New Brunswick, Canada, he immigrated with them to Massachusetts at the age of two. He grew up in Newton, Mass., and became a U.S. citizen in 1937. In 1942, he graduated from Newton High School, where he had played on the hockey team. In later years, he loved visiting his daughter in Quebec City, where he got to use his high school French. In June 1942, he enlisted in the Coast Guard as an apprentice seaman; he was honorably discharged as a fireman first class in 1946.

 In July 1949, he married Frances C. Foley of Rowley, Mass. They moved to Beverly, Mass., in 1952, living first in the Cove and then in North Beverly. Both of them enjoyed ballroom dancing, often wowing guests at weddings they attended. Jerry loved Big Band music and played the trumpet. In the 1950s, he was a member of the Jaycees and ran for Alderman. Later, he was a youth hockey coach for the Beverly Farms Flyers Youth Hockey Club and a Little League Baseball coach.  Jerry enjoyed playing pickup ice hockey (often at Patton Park in Hamilton) and was an avid tennis player who enjoyed his regular Sunday morning tennis matches with a group of friends at the tennis courts in the Cove. He had a private pilot’s license and, when he was young, often flew out of the airport on Plum Island.  While working days, he attended night classes at Northeastern University, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1955. He also took night classes at Suffolk University Law School. He worked for a number of insurance companies as a claims adjuster before taking early retirement from The Hartford and starting his own private investigation firm.  He ultimately retired from his firm in 2006.

Jerry is survived by his wife of 72 years, Frances; his daughter, Constance; his son, Glenn, and daughter-in-law, Caroline; two grandchildren, Catherine (MacDonald) Burns and Colin MacDonald; a great-granddaughter, Ainsley Burns; and a number of nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister, Joyce Brown, and his brother, Glen.

At the request of the family, all services are private. To light a memorial candle or to leave a message of condolence, please visit www.fsrobertsandson.com.  Arrangements entrusted to    F. S. Roberts & Son Funeral Home of Rowley.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org.

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