Alfred McDonald

Dear Madeline:

My sincere condolences to you and family.

Alfie was a good friend of mine. I got to know Alfie when I flew with him on the Canada Centre for Remote Sensing Convair 580 from 1979. He was friendly and a highly skilled pilot.

The most exciting incidence flying with Alfie was when we were landing in Winnipeg but missing a landing gear green light. That night Alfie was on the left seat and Clair Gleddie on the right. Alfie flew by the tower for a visual. Did the shake & roll, then came in for a touch and go on the questionable gear. When the gear held we finally landed with fire trucks chasing us down the runway. Everyone hopped off. Sure enough the gear was not 100% latched and did not turn on the green light !

Another funny case of Alfie at the wheel: we were operating out of RAF Brampton? UK in 81. It was Sunday and the base was closed. Alfie decided to drive us across the airfield instead of taking the long way around. To see how fast that little car can go Alfie raced us down the middle of the runway. Suddenly over a little rise we were out of runway and the arrester wires were coming fast. We managed to come to a screeching halt. Wiping off our collective sweat, we slowly turned around and found a military police with flashing lights chasing us. Alfie got off with a mild slap on the wrist.

I last saw Alfie when we had dinner with the Innotech gang in April 2005. We had kept in touch. We will miss him dearly.

To the McDonald family. My name is Colette Gervais, daughter of Romeo Gervais from the RCAF. Our Dads were very good friends and I know that my Dad showed a great deal of respect when speaking of his friend, Alf. My Mom knew your parents also. Mom has passed away, but Dad is now 92 years old and is under hospital care and living there full time due to a stroke 5 years ago. We lived in Winnipeg, Trenton, Bagotville and Chatham (where one of the Golden Hawks still stands). Dad was a test pilot and the RCAF was his life and still is to this day. I'm sure that your Dad was as passionate as mine when speaking of the air force years. I would like to offer you my sincere sympathies for your loss ... that of another great man. All the best! Colette

I only just found out about Alf. I knew him from the Uplands Mess and a few mutual friends. He was a great guy to talk to and very interesting individual. My condolences to his family. I'd hoped at one point to renew acquaintences but it never came about. You were always at ease in his presence.

Tess, Lyra and family,

Our deepest sympathies on your loss.

I was fortunate to have meet your grandfather. I remember him as a very warm, friendly, light hearted and special man. He always made me feel like I was at home and this I will never forget.

May you take comfort in all your wonderful memories you shared together.

Madeline and family; Brian and I would like to extend to you our deepest sympathies at your so recent loss. He is well remembered in our community for his jolly outlook on life, his hard work and commitment to family and Church.

Our sincere sympathy to Madeleine and all of your family. Alfie seemed to be a big part of our life when Reid was flying with him on the Convair. As the kids and I would watch the plane fly away on another mission, I was always happy when he was one of the pilots, both for his skill in flying, and knowing that he would be a steady presence to the young men while they were on the road.

It was a beautiful funeral, and fitting that he got me to mass one more time, as he always knew when and where the Sunday mass was whenever I could join Reid on the road. We were both very sad to hear of his passing, and will remember both of your kindness and hospitality to us.

If there is another world, he lives in bliss. If there is none, he made the best of this.
Robert Burns

Tess & Family, so sorry for your loss.

To Tess and Family, my thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. Lise M.

Dear Madeleine and family,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all during this difficult time.

My Dear Alf,
Beautiful memories are wonderful things, they last till the longest day, they never wear out, they never get lost, and can never be given away.

To some you may be forgotten, to others part of the past.

But to us who loved and lost you, your memory will always last.

God Bless and Rest In Peace.


Members of the Royal Canadian Legion, Kanata Branch #638

Sorry for your loss.

To Tess and family, my deepest sympathy for your loss. My prayers and thoughts are with you through this difficult time.

Tess and family, my thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.

Madeleine and family,
Our deepest sympathy at your loss. May your fond memories comfort you in the days to come.
Pat Jan Glancy

Madeleine and family,
Our deepest sympathy at your loss. May your fond memories comfort you in the days to come.
Pat and Jan Glancy

To the McDonald family. It has been many years since we have seen Alf & Madeleine but have been kept updated over the years from my sister, Debbie. We are sorry to hear about the passing of Pete's Dad. I'm sure the head of the McDonald family will be greatly missed. Love to the McDonald family.
Morley & Linda James
Stony Plain, Alberta

I share your sorrow at the passing of a great guy who was loved and respected by his fellow officers. May your memories of happy times console you at this sad time Madeleine. Andy's widow.

To Madeleine & Family. Our thoughs & prayers are with you all.

Pete, Deb, and families,
Our thoughts are with you at this difficult time.
The Nixons

To Madeleine and family. My sincere sympathy on the loss of your family patriarch. Alf was a blast to know and has been sorely missed on the golf course these last few years. Within the KofC we will also be missing his pointed comments which kept us attentive to the impact of our work. My neighbours here in North Fort Myers, Joe and Phyllis Couillard also fondly remember Alfy and you Madeleine from past common RCAF postings. My prayers are with you.

Peter
Our sincere condolences to you and your family, on the passing of your father.
Our thoughts are with you.

Our most sincere condolences to you Madeleine and your family. Alfie was always a special friend and pilot who was willing to share his amazing sense of duty and patriotisism with all his military and civilian friends. He will be missed by all.

Helen & Family
Our sincerest sympathy to you and your family.
May all the happy memories of your Dad, and I'm sure you have many, sustain you through this difficult time.

I wish I could be there to support as you supported me in my time of need. Just know that our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Evelyn & Dave

To Madeleine and family. My deepest condolences on the loss of your dear husband and father. Although we have lost touch over the years I have many fond memories of the McDonald clan. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Anne Marie,
My sincere condolences on the passing of your father. My thoughts are with you.
Kelly Parent (TRC)

To Madeleine and family,

We are deeply saddened by the passing of our dear Alf. He will be missed around the neighbourhood and we will cherish the memories of the good times we had with him. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time.

Love, Carolynne McCrea & Ken Hasler, Kanata, ON

February 7,2011


My deepfelt sympathies Madeleine,on the passing of Alf. I hope the many memories of all the happy times you had to-gether will be your solace. Alf and I had many wonderful trips and times to-gether,and the times that Kay and I had with the both of you are part of the wonderful memories that keep me going. May you be granted peace and joy in remembering.

Bill Hoy, Sebring, Florida

Our sincere condolences to Madeleine and family. Alf was one of those "special" people which we had the honour to know and love. He will always be in our thoughts and prayers.
Happy flying Alf.
God Bless you.

Our sincere condolences to Madeleine and her
family. We remember the good times we had at
the cottage especially the cornroasts.
Glenn and Gerry Matthews

To Madeleine and family.....as you know Madeleine, I was with Alfie on a lot of those trips to survey anything from ice to wheat. I was new to this work, and Alfie made it a mission to help and guide the new guy in any way possible.
His larger than life presence, and friendly nature made the job not only bearable, but actually helped it to be fun and interesting. I still hear his catch phrase.."fantastic"..which he used extensively.
Receiving your phone call was difficult, for Jo and I.
He is in our prayers and thoughts, and is truly missed. We hope to see you this week if we are able to make the trip.
Our condolences and prayers....he was, a joy to be around, and probably buzzing the occasional control tower as we speak.

Love...
Steve & Jo

To Madeleine and family....our deepest sympathies in the passing of Alf. A wonderful man with an amazing career, he truly was someone that will never be forgotten. May he rest in Peace in his eternal home.

God bless....

Roger and Diane Derenzis
West Palm Beacg, Florida

Madeleine: my heart goes out to you and your family. But we do have wonderful memories of our flyboys, don't we? and those memories will lighten many a dark day and dry many tears. God bless Alf - no doubt, he and Jim are doing loops somewhere and having a wonderful time of it.