Obituary of Robert Francis "Bobby" MacDonald

Robert “Bobby” Francis MacDonald, 63, of Beverly passed suddenly on March 8, 2010 at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. Born in Malden, he was the son of the late Daniel Allen and Dorothy (Dodd) MacDonald. Bobby is survived by his loving daughter Molly Clements of Portsmouth, RI and her husband Dan and their son Jordan. He is also survived by a brother Daniel “Skip” MacDonald and his wife Sandi of Peabody, a sister, Phyllis Hancock of Media, PA, his nephews, Daniel and John Hancock, both from PA as well as John MacDonald of Georgetown and Daniel MacDonald of Los Angeles, CA, and is also survived by several grand nieces. Bobby was a proud veteran, having served our country in Vietnam, where he earned both a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star, as a member of the 82nd Airborne Special Forces. His tireless work on behalf of Veterans continued throughout his life, climaxed with the Vietnam Memorial in Peabody Square, one of his many accomplishments. After serving our country Bobby married Peggy Leek, who predeceased him in 1999. They had a daughter Molly, and started their own business, MacDonald’s Fudge in Danvers in the 1970’s. By the mid 1980’s they had 5 stores including one in Newport, RI. Bobby and Peggy later divorced, they remained great friends and parents, Peggy married Paul Lynch of Peabody, a lifelong fireman, and together all took care of Molly, the oldest of 4 siblings. Later in Life, Bobby found success selling Yellow Page Ads for NYNEX. He worked the Boston market and eventually settled in Santa Rosa, CA for the later 1980’s and early 1990’s. His true passion in life was skiing and boating. While in California he became a professional ski instructor at Diamond Peak. A man who loved to work hard and play even harder on the weekend. Bobby retired at 46; his days of serving America had left him battered with permanent disability from the war. He settled in Ossipee, NH, but not for long. In the late 1990’s he moved to Tampa, Fl., where he enjoyed the sun and beaches and all the Red Sox games with the Rays. A true New Englander, Florida was not for him. He returned to his roots to live the last 6 years on the North Shore. He was an active member of many local VFW and American Legion Posts, where he continued to help fellow veterans. His funeral service will be held on Saturday at 10:00 AM from the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM at St. John’s Church, Peabody to which relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. Visiting hours will be held on Friday from 4:00 until 8:00 PM. Burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery on Thursday March 18, 2010 at promptly at 10:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to the American Stroke Assoc., 20 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701.