R. J. McDonald

R.J. McDonald, 71, of Interlaken Road, died Saturday, October 17, at Berkshire Medical Center. Born in New York City, the son of Arthur and Catherine McDonald, he received a basketball scholarship to Pratt Institute where he graduated from the School of Architecture. He was an architect in the rank of lieutenant for the National Health Service in Washington, DC for two years. As principal of his own architecture firm, with offices in New York City and Stockbridge, he worked throughout the east coast on private homes, non-profit organizations, commercial buildings, shopping centers, and corporate offices. Locally he designed homes on and around Stockbridge Bowl and worked on such projects as renovations of the Lenox Library, the Stockbridge Library, and the Krofta Institute of Water Technology. He was a recipient of architecture and design awards. He also owned a series of furniture companies for which he was the sole designer. He also taught at the New York Institute of Technology. As past president of the Stockbridge Bowl Association, he lead the SBA during the years when important studies concerning the clean-up and lake management were initiated. He was a low handicap golfer, and enjoyed frequent travel, especially to Austria. He was beloved by many and is dearly missed by his wife of 39 years, Brigitte, her three sisters and their families, and he had a special bond with Brigitte's nephew, Nicolas. He is also is survived by his brother, Arthur, nephew, Theo, cousin, Hank and their spouses, as well as other cousins and their families. FUNERAL NOTICE: The funeral and burial of R.J. McDonald will be private. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date. Donations in his memory may be made to the Stockbridge Bowl Association, c/o Roche Funeral Home, 120 Main St., Lenox, MA 01240.