St. Clair pioneer MacDonald dead at age 89
St. Clair College is mourning the loss of a key member of the school’s history with the death of Mason MacDonald earlier this week at the age of 89.
Born in 1928, MacDonald came to Windsor from Sydney, N.S., in 1958 and was one of the founders of the Western Ontario Institute of Technology, which grew in St. Clair College in 1967.
“Mason was a true Maritimer that possessed a generous spirit and helped everyone he came across,” former St. Clair athletic director and hockey coach Jack Costello said. “He was the original leadership of St. Clair athletics transitioning from WOIT.
“He set the framework for the next generation of leaders and hired Al Hoffman, who headed our early success at the college. I am forever grateful to him personally as he paved the way for my career at St. Clair College.”
MacDonald served as dean of applied arts and was also at the forefront of college athletics while serving as athletic director from 1958-66 at WOIT. During that time, he also coached hockey, basketball and soccer.
MacDonald established St. Clair’s student athletic association and was the board’s first adviser.
As a tribute, St. Clair named its annual athlete of the year in his honour beginning in 1967, which goes to a male or female student, in their graduating year, that combine athletic excellence, scholastic progress and achievement while consistently demonstrating qualities of leadership, loyalty and dedication to their respective team.
MacDonald created an endowment in his name so that recipients of it would receive financial assistance in perpetuity. To date, 88 student-athletes have received this award.
“I remember Mason as an intelligent and kind man who took great pleasure in spending time with those around him,” Saints athletic co-ordinator Ted Beale said.
No service is planned for MacDonald, who also served as an alderman for the Village of Riverside, but a tree planting in his memory will take place at a later date.