David Munro Macdonald

David Munro MacDonald, age 80, of Havre de Grace, Maryland passed away on November 29, 2019 at Gilchrist Hospice @ GBMC in Towson, Maryland. Born in Birmingham England UK January 16, 1939, he was the son of late Alexander and Madeline (Ballantyne) MacDonald.

His first memories were as a toddler in a WWII bomb shelter, watching lines of British anti-aircraft tracer bullets being fired at German bombers overhead. His later heroes were the US 8th Air Force pilots and Air Crews who came and helped Britain. At his US citizenship swearing-in, he looked up and said quietly, "This one's for you, boys!". He was raised in Aberdeen, Scotland and served in the British Army in Singapore and throughout Malaya, in the war the British called the "Emergency". He then began a distinguished journalistic career, first on Scottish newspapers, then Canadian. He was appointed as City Editor of the Montreal Star, then as that paper's US, Washington and White House Correspondent. The Free Press group of Canadian newspapers sent him to London, England as their correspondent covering the UK and Europe. The Winnipeg Free Press appointed him as an Editorial Page Editor, and later, he went back to Washington, again to cover the US and the White House. He had exceptional skills as an editor, so much so, that the Winnipeg Free Press, one of Canada's premier newspapers, would not start the presses rolling until he had personally checked and approved the editorial pages - every line! From his London years on, he covered war zones around the world, including Syria, Lebanon, Israel (intifadas), Balkans, Northern Ireland, Central America and Colombia, with his last trip being a Haitian revolution! He survived some near-misses and remembered colleagues who did not. Because of his Army Malaya service, he was a Charter and active member of a veterans' group of soldiers who served in SE Asia in Special Operations called the TLC Brotherhood, TLC for Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. He is Editor Emeritus of their newspaper, The Mekong Express Mail, or MEM, which he edited for 12 years. Universities and other groups are eager to learn the Special Ops history that he was instrumental in recording! More importantly, it is truly said that he was a man who was liked, admired and respected by all - everyone! - who knew and worked with him over ALL his years! A rare tribute!

David is survived by his loving family, wife Sally; daughter Allison (Frank) Scopelliti; and grandchildren, Isabelle, Matthew, Nicholas and Christian Scopelliti.