MALCOLM DONALD, GREAT CRANBERRY ISLAND – Malcolm Donald, 74, died peacefully September 20, 2014, in his home on Great Cranberry Island. He was born on August 16, 1940, in San Francisco, California. He was the son of Alexander and Barbara Donald.
Malcolm grew up in Woodside, California. After attending the Cate School he attended Duke University and Harvard College, from which he graduated in 1962. Following graduation he joined the newly-formed Peace Corps, serving in its second group of volunteers in Ethiopia. A highlight was meeting Haile Selassie.
Later he obtained a Master’s degree in Political Science from U.C. Berkeley. He became a co-owner of an oyster hatchery in California and did similar work in Normandy France and elsewhere. A foray into cheesemaking brought him to Maine for a few years in the 1980s, where he founded the Donald Brothers Cheese Factory and made Camembert cheese.
A lifelong interest in the developing world and a particular love for Africa led to extensive international travel and a varied career in public health work, mostly in the field of AIDS prevention. After retiring in 2003, he made his home in the Cranberry Isles, a place he had known and loved since childhood. He participated extensively in town governance and benevolent organizations.
He is survived by his three sons, Alexandre Donald of Medford, MA, Samuel Donald and Philippe Donald of Cranberry Isles, ME; one brother, Peter Donald of Santa Monica, CA, two sisters, Deborah Lamontagne of Edmonds, WA and Susan D. Michalski of Grass Valley, CA and Southwest Harbor, ME; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, September 28, 2014, at the Cranberry Isles Congregational Church on Great Cranberry Island. Gifts in Malcolm’s memory can be sent to charities that help people in need in Africa.
Arrangements by Jordan-Fernald, 1139 Main St., Mt. Desert.
Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com.