Stanley B. McDonald

1920 - 2014

Stanley B. McDonald

Stanley B. McDonald, long time Seattle businessman, best known as the founder of Princess Cruises, passed away peacefully at home with his wife Barbara and family by his side. He was 94 years old and had a remarkable life.

Stanley was born in Alberta, Canada on October 13, 1920 to Ethel and Elwood McDonald and he was raised in Yakima in a close-knit family of three sisters, Gloria, Lois and Janet and a brother Lamont. He eventually moved to Seattle graduating from the University of Washington and enlisted in the Navy where he was trained as a pilot. Shortly after the end of the war he founded Air Mac which went on to become a leading northwest and international distributor of material handling equipment beginning a long career as an entrepreneur, founder and investor in numerous businesses. Air Mac was eventually sold to Hertz and became the catalyst for the Hertz Rental yards we know today throughout the country.

The business that always remained closest to Stan's heart was Princess Cruises. The idea for Princess grew out of his experience finding accommodations for visitors to the Seattle World's Fair in 1962, when hotel rooms were in short supply. Stan chartered a ship and brought passengers up from San Francisco to spend a few days at the Fair before they sailed home. These short cruises were such a sensation that by 1964 Stan had founded Princess Cruises. He created a West Coast sailing route he named the Mexican Riviera, and pioneered luxury cruising to Alaska, Mexico and through the Panama Canal, destinations that remain popular today. He sold Princess to P&O Steamship Company in 1974 and the company is owned by Carnival today.

The glamorous twin ships he designed in the early 70's would go on to lasting fame as the setting for The Love Boat, the spectacularly successful TV series launched in 1977. Stan is known by many as the father of cruising and was recently honored as such at the 50th anniversary celebration of Princess Cruises.

Stan stayed on as Princess CEO until 1980. In 1983 he went on to found Sundance Cruises which eventually merged and became part of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.

In keeping with Stan's entrepreneurial spirit he was a Founding Member of the Young Presidents' Organization (YPO) in Seattle in the early 1950's. He helped establish and promote the organization nationally and internationally throughout his life and went on to become the President of the World Presidents' Organization.

Stan is survived by his loving wife Barbara of 70 years, his brother Lamont (Phyllis) and sister Lois (Chuck) Gervais; his children and their spouses, Laurie (Lars) Jonsson, Kirby (Diane) McDonald, six grandchildren, Scott McDonald, Jamey (Mark) Kern, Tobey (Pete) Bryant, and Jonas, Marcus and Jenny Jonsson, and eight great grandchildren. "My family has given me the greatest joy in my life," Stan always said.

A private family celebration of Stan's life is planned.

Donations in Stan's name may be made to the UW Foster School of Business, Box 353200, Seattle, Wa. 98195 or The Stellar Club at the Swedish Medical Center Foundation, 747 Broadway Avenue Seattle, Washington, 98122.

To sign Stan's online Guestbook

go to http://memorialwebsites.legacy.com/StanMcDonald/Homepage.aspx