I'm posting this here and there so that those who knew John MacDonald will know he has left us as of this afternoon, Sunday October 15.
It was John and Judith MacDonald who picked up my parents and me at the Puerto Plata airport upon my very first visit to the Dominican Republic over 20years ago. I was entranced by the cane fields, carts pulled by mules and other sites on the way to Cofresi, as John described all that was new and strange to me. A couple of years later when I went to live there for a bit and discover the DR for myself, John was a sort of surrogate parent to me. If not for John I would not know how to play cribbage and my Dominican experiences would not have been as rich. Our road trip to Barahona, oh boy - I will never forget.
John reveled in the fun and differences of the Dominican Republic and anyone who knew John knew how much he loved the people as well. The woman and her two children who came on to help around the house became family. I'm sure Christina has tears in her eyes at this moment. John sent one of her children to the U. S. to be educated as well as another Dominican child - both now young adults.
John had battled fiercely with cancer the last couple of years and it finally got the best of him, before he would have otherwise been ready. Here in New Hampshire for medical treatment he recently learned he had only a couple of weeks left and it was his wish to spend his last days on his porch looking out over his beautiful Cofresi. Judith made sure this would happen and made preparations to quickly get him back. He died according to his wishes, surrounded by loved ones and will be buried in his beloved Dominican Republic.
I will miss you John. I doubt I will ever step foot on Playa Cofresi and not think of you.
Those who knew John and want funeral and wake information can email or PM me, as I should have this information shortly.
It was John and Judith MacDonald who picked up my parents and me at the Puerto Plata airport upon my very first visit to the Dominican Republic over 20years ago. I was entranced by the cane fields, carts pulled by mules and other sites on the way to Cofresi, as John described all that was new and strange to me. A couple of years later when I went to live there for a bit and discover the DR for myself, John was a sort of surrogate parent to me. If not for John I would not know how to play cribbage and my Dominican experiences would not have been as rich. Our road trip to Barahona, oh boy - I will never forget.
John reveled in the fun and differences of the Dominican Republic and anyone who knew John knew how much he loved the people as well. The woman and her two children who came on to help around the house became family. I'm sure Christina has tears in her eyes at this moment. John sent one of her children to the U. S. to be educated as well as another Dominican child - both now young adults.
John had battled fiercely with cancer the last couple of years and it finally got the best of him, before he would have otherwise been ready. Here in New Hampshire for medical treatment he recently learned he had only a couple of weeks left and it was his wish to spend his last days on his porch looking out over his beautiful Cofresi. Judith made sure this would happen and made preparations to quickly get him back. He died according to his wishes, surrounded by loved ones and will be buried in his beloved Dominican Republic.
I will miss you John. I doubt I will ever step foot on Playa Cofresi and not think of you.
Those who knew John and want funeral and wake information can email or PM me, as I should have this information shortly.