Obituary of Dr. Ian Murray MacDonald

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Ian Murray MacDonald, at the Chalmers Hospital in Fredericton, New Brunswick, on January 7, 2025, with his family by his side. He was born June 29, 1944, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He was the son of the late Robert and Katherine MacDonald. He is predeceased by his partner in life, his wife, Jane Newton MacDonald

The most important thing in his life was his family. He will be greatly missed by his son, Ian Andrew, and daughter, Jennifer Ellen, daughter-in-law Circe Moss, and his only grandchild, Atlas Phoebe Sage. He is also survived by his siblings Sharon MacDonald, Carol Hazelden (Russell), Edward MacDonald (Jane Henson), and his siblings-in-law, Jim (Audrey) Newton, Dexter (Mary Kay) Newton, Charlie (Ellen) Newton, William Plaskett, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Ian grew up in Halifax where he developed his love of sport, including tennis, football, skating, and biking. He was Head Boy at Queen Elizabeth High School and attained the rank of Queen Scout. In 1961, he attended Medomak Camp in Maine and that impacted the rest of his life, as he met Dexter, whose sister, Jane, was a counselor at the nearby girls’ camp. Ian embraced camp life, becoming a counselor and a certified Junior Maine Guide.

Ian graduated from Queens University and worked at a lab in London, England. Jane followed him there and they toured Europe before marrying in Westborough, Massachusetts in June, 1967. They then moved to Halifax, where Ian studied medicine at Dalhousie University. After he graduated, Ian, Jane, and their two children moved to Fredericton, where they joined a close-knit neighbourhood. As a young father, Ian began his medical practice and became an active member of the community. While in family medicine, he took a particular interest in geriatrics, serving as Medical Director at both Pine Grove Nursing Home and the Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital Geriatric Assessment and Rehabilitation Unit (3NE). He also worked as a preceptor for Dalhousie University, sharing his remarkable abilities with future generations of doctors.

After 21 years of practice, never having had a sick day, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. His miraculous recovery allowed him to have 31 more years of active service, and he took a particular interest in supporting the cancer community. He provided a beacon of hope for people across the country. He received numerous awards for his work, with the Dr. Garfield Moffat Award (for patient care, medical education, and community engagement) holding special meaning for him.

In addition to his professional life, he enjoyed cross-country skiing, tennis, canoeing, kayaking, and camping every summer with family. Sailing held a special place in his life, and he was proud of his long membership in the Mactaquac Sailing Association.

Connecting with his Scottish roots, Ian took up the bagpipes, playing with the Fredericton District Pipes and Drums. In the early 1990s, he served as chairman of the New Brunswick Highland Games and was the Honorary Chieftain in 2006.

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the many friends, colleagues and healthcare workers who assisted Ian. We are incredibly grateful to the Extramural Hospital team, which allowed him to continue living independently in the last months.

A visitation will be held at McAdam’s Funeral Home, on Saturday, January 11, from 1:00 – 4:00 pm. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. For those who wish, in lieu of flowers, to honour Ian’s memory, donations may be made to the Dr. Ian MacDonald Scholarship at UNB, the Dalhousie Medical Class of 1972 Global Health Education Bursary, or Wellspring Cancer Support Foundation.