McDONALD, (Doug) Douglas Walter - Passed away peacefully after a short
hospital stay on Thursday June 15th, 2006 in his 95th year. A North Bay
native, Doug was born on May 13th, 1912. Loving husband of Julia,
stepfather to Alice (Chuck), Cathy (Rick), and Judy (Bob); step-grandfather
to Seth. Sadly missed by nieces Betty, Edna, and other family members.
Predeceased by his first wife Dorothy Bryant, brother Howard, and sister
Annie Day. Doug was well-known in North Bay. He belonged to the North
Bay Rotary Club, A.C.T, Masonic Lodge, Legion, North Bay Country Club,
and the North Bay Granite Club. A decorated WW11 veteran, Doug served
overseas as a Commanding Officer with the Algonquin Regiment, receiving
the Netherland Bronze Cross in 1945. He remained an active member of
the Algonquin Regiment Veterans Association as Honourary Colonel. In his
capacity as eldest senior officer of the Algonquin Veterans, he represented
the Canadian government at the Adegem Canadian War Cemetery "Forty
Years of Liberation 1984 and Fifty Years of Liberation 1994" Memorial Day
Ceremonies. Prior to the war, Doug played professional hockey for the
Baltimore Orioles from 1936-38 and the Atlantic City Seagulls from
1941-42. For his sports achievements for over 40 years, he was inducted
into the North Bay Sports Hall of Fame in February 1981. He played
hockey around the world, played baseball, tennis, fastball, curled, was an
avid golfer, and skated until the age of 93. He was a fine marksman and
contributed to sports as coach, official and sponsor. Just prior to and after
WWII Doug owned and operated several local gas stations. Doug also
taught driving lessons throughout North Bay probably to most of you
reading this now! He was always open to new experiences and purchased
his first computer at the age of 90.
"In sport, you derive a great deal of pleasure, so this would have to be my first love. The military started at school, 5 years in the Cadet Corp with Leo Troy where I became interested in rifle shooting and communication. When Leo joined the services I would guess a great number of the students were endowed with his patriotism and decided to follow the leader. Hockey playing and other sports were important aspects of everyday life in the services. The Algonquins had some good hockey prospects and we molded a team that won 3 Division titles and gained Army semi-finals twice. We played only when out of battle or training, a statement proven at the completion of the war by the number of personnel lost in action who also starred as hockey players" -Doug McDonald
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