Charles Richard McDonald

April 14, 1942 - May 5, 2014

Charles Richard McDonald, attorney, father, brother and friend, passed away peacefully on May 5th, 2014 at Treasure Coast Hospice in Stuart, Florida.

Lover of boating, sun-kissed tomatoes, barbeque chicken, fresh picked corn-on-the-cob, Louis Armstrong music and Handel's Messiah, Charlie was born in Port Chester, New York to parents Richard Charles McDonald and Thelma Jane MacDonald. He grew up with his three sisters in Riverside, Connecticut, where as an Eagle Scout he once sailed with his troop on the Queen Mary to Europe and later piloted the club launch at the Riverside Yacht Club. The launch was aptly named "Press on Regardless," which matched his stoic, Scottish nature.

Charlie studied political science at Bucknell University and earned a law degree at Georgetown University. In 1967, he moved to Michigan, where he joined the law firm of Dykema, Gossett and became partner in 1975. In 1986, he left Dykema to become General Counsel at Kenmar Corp., an automotive manufacturer's representative firm, from which he retired in 1998.

Charlie married former spouse, Brenda McDonald-Cunningham in 1964, raised two children, and spent most of his adult life residing in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

Charlie was passionate about the automotive business, world history, national politics, constitutional rights and his beloved family cottage on the shore of Lake Erie in Kingsville, Ontario where he hosted countless gatherings for family and friends. After retiring in 1998, he took up winter residence in Stuart, Florida and welcomed the respite from Michigan winter. Charlie was also past president of the American Heart Association of Michigan and a strong supporter of the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Charlie is survived by his son Robert (Ingrid) McDonald and their two children, Roscoe and Skye; his daughter Laurie Krisman and granddaughter, Maya; and sisters Ruth (Bob) Stoppert and Beth (Drew) Riggs. He is pre-deceased by his sister, Nancy MacLean and parents Richard and Jane McDonald.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, July 12th at 11:30 a.m. at the Birmingham Unitarian Church in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. In lieu of flowers contributions as a memorial may be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association: 912 Killian Hill Road S.W. Lilburn, GA 30047 or the Treasure Coast Hospice: 1201 SE Indian Street Stuart, Florida 34997.