Obituary for Ian Verner Macdonald
Ian Verner Macdonald
Ian V. Macdonald passed peacefully at home in the warm arms of his assistant Lydia on June 28, 2022, in his 98th year. He died with dignity and deep love. Ian was the son of the late John A. and Katherine Macdonald. He was one of the first to be born in the newly-built Ottawa Civic Hospital in January 1925 and grew up in Old Ottawa South with summers spent in Sherbrooke NS where both of his parents were born.
A true patriot all of his life, he served in the RCAF and RN Fleet Air Arm during WWII and had a lifelong love of aviation. With degrees in economics from Queen’s University and University of Toronto, he went on to a career as a trade diplomat that took him officially to over 50 countries. His numerous unprecedented accomplishments in this career made him arguably the most productive trade official then in Canadian history. Meanwhile, in his spare time, he founded different ventures including manufacturing vinyl-based dental plastics, opening a feldspar mine, establishing a downtown gallery in Ottawa, building a lavish-decor Hollywood-theme restaurant, etc..
As a WWII Veteran with rich diplomatic experiences and Advanced News Writing training at Wayne State University in Detroit and an amateur historian, he was drawn to study the history of the war. He produced hundreds of iconoclastic treatises on WWII and Middle Eastern issues. He has written numerous published articles and has been the subject of articles written by others on his outspoken patriotism and unflagging efforts to expose subversion and corruption in government;
He was an avid musician leading a dance band while at Queen’s, forming his own Swing band while living in South Africa, and playing trombone throughout his life with various bands up until he was 92.
His guideline in life is Kipling’s advice to his son “to fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds worth of distance run”. He strives to make every minute count in all his varied endeavours, and he excelled at everything he did - as the Manager of the Queen’s Brass and Pipe Bands, as the top-performance trade diplomat, as an ardent Ottawa heritage promoter, as an ambitious entrepreneur, as an insatiable writer and reader. As an undaunted truth defender and great Canadian patriot, he remained true to his integrity and principles to the very end of his admirable life.
He will be missed by Lydia and Vincent, his sister Kay Bingeman, his son Scott, grandsons Alex and Nelson, and many other caring relatives and long-time friends.
Friends may Visit at the Central Chapel of Hulse, Playfair and McGarry 315 McLeod Street, on Wednesday July 6 from 12noon until Service time in the Chapel at 1pm. Interment at Beechwood Cemetery at 3pm.
In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to Historica Canada or the charity of your choice.
For those who wish to view the service virtually, please use the following link: Ian Macdonald Livestream Link