Obituary of A. Neil MacDonald

May 10, 1954 - March 18, 2025

It is with very mixed emotions Neil’s family announce his passing on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. 

It was on, or around, March 10^th, 2024 when Neil and his trusted roommate, David, began plotting The Great Escape from the 5^th floor of St. Joseph’s Hospital. In the interlude Neil won friends with anyone he came into contact with; doctors, nurses, support staff, housekeeping, fellow patients and their family members. He quickly became known for his courteous behaviour, good manners, charm, quick smile, and wit, and of course, the many “Neil-isms”. The “bottom line is”, the plot for the Great Escape developed over time and Neil achieved his freedom on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.

Neil was born May 10, 1954 to F. Seward and Jean (Young) MacDonald. Born in Saint John, Neil grew up a proud West Sider and remained a proud West Sider. He was a graduate of Saint John High School and UNB Fredericton where he played football and was active in many other school activities. Neil’s full given name was Arthur Neil MacDonald.  As was family tradition, he was always known as Neil. This caused many problems and laughs over the years when Bev would book travel plans and when new hospital staff had no idea who “Arthur MacDonald” was when they were sorting out meal trays.

Neil was a salesman extraordinaire. He wore a suit with shirt and tie to work every day - even when formal dress in the workplace fell out of vogue.  He was a traditionalist; he was “old school”. He said the “package” mattered which was very fitting as he spent over 40 years selling packaging - first for Maritime Paper and then Master Packaging. He knew the phone numbers of all of his customers by memory. He celebrated birthdays, weddings, births and more with them. He acknowledged their losses. He would always say, “people buy from people” so you had better take care of your customers.  Many customers became close friends, and remain close friends to this day. He was not a lover of rules, and when rules got in the way of a sale he would proclaim “get out of my way, I’m selling boxes”!

Neil was a passionate man. He put everything he had into everything he did, whether it be family, work, friendships, play, or maintaining the house and property. He always said, “if you are going to do something, put your all into it”. 

He loved old Dusters and quoted from them often, particularly Clint Eastwood movies. He loved music and when the boys were growing up, they wore out at least two copies of The Rolling Stone Record Guide. He loved the annual family Christmas Crokinole nights. He was passionate about his Red Sox and New England Patriots, with the annual pilgrimage to Fenway Park with Bev. The annual two-week trip to Cuba was the only time he slowed down and relaxed. Bev and Neil had so much fun in Cuba – particularly with Felicity and Richard, and the large group of “Repeaters” from all over Canada and beyond. Since retiring, Neil always looked forward to travelling to Bradenton Tropical Palms in Florida to escape winter. Nothing he loved better than cruising the aisles of any grocery store, anywhere. The boys laugh recalling their father standing at the foot of the stairs hollering, “calling all darks!”, which meant throw the dark-coloured dirty clothes down the stairs because it was laundry time, which he did religiously.

He was a member of the YMCA for over 4 decades and spent time in the gym pretty much every day. He was a decades long member of the Balls Lake Fishing Club, having joined in 1985. Fishing was his number one passion, either trout at the lake or salmon on the Miramichi. Neil and his friends would vie for time on the Crown Water every year, one of New Brunswick’s unknown treasures to anyone other than the most avid of salmon fishermen.

He loved a good “discussion” which could often lead to a good debate over the right answer to an obscure question. He hated cell phones and Google as they took the fun out of arguing an answer.

He had a strong love and commitment to anything family.  He was so proud, and happy, that his sons grew to become such wonderful men, all devoted to their families, as he was to them. He cherished Sunday dinners with all of them and loved putting George and Jamie to work helping split wood on the wood splitter and raking leaves for Megan and them, and Chief to play in. When Christian, Josee, Piper and Beckett came to visit there had to be a special trip to the grocery store so all of their favourites were in the house. They were a source of joy for him.

Neil is survived by his wife, Beverly (Nicholson, Henneberry), his 3 sons: Christian (Josee), Bradley (Amy), and Craig (Shawna), along with his five grandchildren: Piper, Beckett, George, Jamie, and Megan.  And, his much-loved grand-dog Chief, his loyal pal. Also survived by his brother, Grant (Susan); nieces: Andrea Paul (Ricky) and Carolyn MacDonald (Ryan Josey); brothers-in-law, Neil Nicholson (Gina) and Blair Nicholson (Patti); sister-in-law, Sharron Nicholson; as well as nieces, nephews and cousins. He is also survived by his very special angel of a friend, Megan, who has cared for him and protected him as though he were her own father. We have both been blessed by her. He was predeceased by his parents.

We are so thankful for our family doctor, Dr. Mobin Ataellahi, who supported Neil prior to his hospitalization. Also thank you to Dr. Keith Wilson for his tenacity in getting the magic formula right. The doctors, nurses, support workers, housekeeping and kitchen staff, of the CAM and GEM units at St. Joseph’s Hospital, all of whom made life bearable when at times that didn’t seem possible. Thank you. 

He left us way too soon and will be dearly missed by all who knew him, “irregardless"  for how long.  Neil would have said to us all, though:

What a friggin’ mess!! Total disaster!! (A big pause, and then) Sorry man.

Arrangements are under the care of Brenan’s Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row, Saint John, NB, 506-634-7424. A private interment will take place on Friday, March 28, 2025. All are invited to attend and help us celebrate “The Great Escape”, in fine Neil fashion, on Friday, March 28, 2025 at the Riverside Country Club, 2524 Rothesay Road, Rothesay, NB from 2:00-5:00. Tributes to Neil will be offered at 3:30 and anyone wishing to share their favourite “Neil Story” is invited to do so.

For those who have never had to experience Alzheimer’s Disease or any form of Dementia, you don’t know how fortunate you are. For those who have, either now, or in the past, may God truly bless you. If you want to make any type of memorial to Neil, please make a donation to the Alzheimer’s Society for research so that one day this horrendous disease may be eradicated.