William J. "Mac" MacDonald Jr.

William J. "Mac" MacDonald, Jr., a retired master electrician and lifelong resident of Burlington, passed away after a long illness in the home where he grew up on Saturday, January 24, 2026. He was 84 years old.

Mac was born in Woburn, the son of William and Sarah MacDonald. He grew up on Harriett Avenue in Burlington and attended Saint Charles Elementary School, followed by Burlington High School when it was located at the Center School. He was a proud member of the Class of 1960.

Mac was drafted into the United States Army and served for two years during the Vietnam War. He held the rank of PFC and was a member of Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 6th Artillery Regiment, known as the "Spearhead," which was stationed in Germany. His role was as a vehicle mechanic. For Mac, who had rarely ventured far from Burlington, his military service gave him the opportunity to see more of the world.

He had a passion for muscle cars and, before becoming a responsible parent, proudly owned a 1962 Corvette and a souped-up 1960 El Camino.

After his military service, Mac went to work at General Electric in Lynn. He spent 40 years working the 3:00 to 11:00 p.m. shift as a master electrician in the gear plant. He was responsible for maintaining and repairing anything involving electricity, from the building itself to machinery and the large overhead cranes. Mac was a no-nonsense kind of guy and was highly respected by his coworkers, management, and even CEO Jack Welch, who knew Mac by name. He helped keep the plant safe, operational, and running smoothly.

Mac's work ethic was second to none. He worked the 3:00 to 11:00 shift at GE while also running his own electrical business, William MacDonald and Son Electrical Service, providing both residential and commercial work throughout the Burlington area. A fourteen-hour workday was not unusual for Mac. He did it all to be a better provider for his family. He had a great way with the clients he served, always delivering excellent service while being fair with his prices. He was especially generous with young families in the community, offering guidance along with his expertise. He loved telling stories about the old Burlington, when it was still a farming community, and recalling the events and personalities of days long gone by.

Mac wanted to give his family the best and was never afraid to put in blood and sweat to build his dreams. One example of this was his lake house in Shapleigh, Maine, on Mousam Lake. Mac and his family often went camping with three other families, and together they came up with the idea of buying land and creating homes for each family. They cleared the land, built their homes, and created places that would become generational gathering spots.

Weekends at the lake were spent water skiing, tubing, boating, and swimming. Mac would spend the entire day at the helm, pulling the kids and their friends without ever tiring. And just to show he wasn't getting old, he would put on his skis and prove to the kids he still had it. Evenings ended with family cookouts and campfires.

During the winter months, Mac brought out the snowmobiles, and the family spent their days riding the trails. Some days they covered hundreds of miles; other days they snowmobiled to destinations like Poor People's Pub and other restaurants. They could have taken a car, but it was the adventure that made it fun.

Mac loved to share his lake home with others. His children knew there was always an open invitation for their friends to come to the lake. Mac even hosted the Burlington Recreation Department Wilderness Program for a weekend camping trip on his property, as well as his grandsons' hockey team and their families during a nearby tournament.

Mac had a wide circle of friends, many of whom he had known since childhood. There were neighborhood friends, lake friends, and travel friends, all ready to lend a helping hand with each other's projects. Saturday night dinner dates were the norm. Art and Dayle Caterino were lifelong friends of Mac and Joanne. Together they traveled to Italy, Ireland, Alaska, Sweden, Bermuda, and Aruba many times. When Mac and Art were together, it was as if they were mischievous teenagers again. Somehow, they even became friends with the chief of police in Aruba. Together they created countless memories filled with laughter, stories, and adventures.

Mac was a father who wanted the very best for his children. No matter how much he worked, he made time for their school events and sports. He could be found in the stands for their youth, high school, and college hockey, soccer, and baseball games. It was never hard to figure out where Mac was sitting. He did the same for his grandchildren's hockey, soccer, and lacrosse games.

Mac could put on a tough exterior, but inside he had a heart of gold. He cherished every moment with his grandchildren-decorating his boat for parades, Sunday morning adventures to the "Dirty Dozen Donut Shop," and finding ways to make every moment special for them.

In the last few years, Mac faced very serious health issues, and his family, especially his wife of 60 years, Joanne, lovingly cared for him so he could remain in the home where he grew up and where he wished to spend his final days.

Mac was the beloved husband of Joanne (McDermott) MacDonald. He was the loving father of William MacDonald, III & his wife Judy of Burlington, Mary-Jo Urquhart & her husband Rod of Burlington, and Colleen Gibbs of Wakefield. He was the proud grandfather of Kerri Urquhart, Kevin Urquhart, Kayla Gibbs, Shannon Gibbs, and Jesse Gibbs. He was the brother of Sarah "Sally" Lendrim of MD, the late Jeannette Reilly, and late Mary Decarsky. He was also survived by many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Visiting hours will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn Street, Burlington on Saturday, January 31 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Malachy Church in St. Veronica Parish, 99 Bedford Street, Burlington at Noon. Services will conclude with a burial at Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Burlington.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in William's name may be made to St. Veronica Parish, 111 Winn Street, Burlington , MA 01803.

For online guestbook and video tribute see www.sullivanfuneralhome.net