Angus Athole MacNaughton

1931 - 2021

Angus Athole MacNaughton
July 15, 1931 - May 19, 2021
Angus A. MacNaughton, born July 15, 1931 in Montreal, Quebec, died peacefully in his sleep at his home in Danville, California on the morning of May 19, 2021 after a long struggle with melanoma. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Cathy MacNaughton, children, Andrew MacNaughton (Julie), Gillian MacNaughton (Diane Frey), brother Bruce MacNaughton (Ann), stepson, Brent McMicking (Paige Van Ness), grandchild, Alexandra McMicking, and adorable dog Charlie.

Angus MacNaughton attended Lakefield College School, Lower Canada College, and McGill University and was a chartered accountant.

In 1955, he joined Genstar Corporation as an accountant, became assistant treasurer in 1956, vice president in 1964, executive vice president in 1970, president in 1973, and vice chairman and chief executive officer in 1976. Beginning in 1981, both he and partner Ross J. Turner became chairmen of the board of directors and chief executive officers, alternating their positions annually as chairman and president. In February 1987, to round out their achievements, Angus and Ross formed Genstar, a private investment company, with several former Genstar executives.

During his lifetime, Angus was a member of Barrick Gold Corporation International Advisory Board, Director of the San Francisco Opera Board, Director of Canadian Pacific Limited, a Director of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada Limited, Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, Inc., Varian Associates, Inc., Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc., Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Inc., Canada Trustco Mortgage Company, Royal Trustco Ltd., Canada Permanent, Stelco, Inc., Wolverine Tube, Inc., member of the Board of Governors, Trustee of Lakefield College School Foundation, Trustee of the World Affairs Council of Northern California, and a Director of San Ramon Regional Medical Center.

Angus was also past chairman of the San Francisco Bay Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, past president of the Tax Executives Institute of Montreal, a former member of the Financial Executive Institute, the Hudson Institute and a senior member of the Conference Board of New York.

Angus was a financial genius and a successful venture capitalist. In 2005, the Toronto Globe and Mail published an article naming him one of the "ten greatest CEOs of all time." He led an extraordinarily full and accomplished life and was deeply committed to helping others, leaving an indelible mark through his involvement with causes that were near and dear to his heart. His philanthropy did and will continue to sustain many students. He created the MacNaughton Family Foundation Bursary to support promising students who would otherwise be unable to attend Lakefield College School in Canada. He generously supported the Toscana Scholarship Fund, Yellowstone Club Foundation, East Bay Hospice Northern California, Junior Achievement, Cure Cervical Cancer, Glioblastoma Research at California Pacific Medical Center, UCSF AIDS research, AIDS Assistance Program, The Sentinels of Freedom Scholarship Foundation, the San Francisco Opera, and other charities.

In addition to his charities and successful business endeavors, Angus loved his family. He was adventurous and extended that enthusiasm to his wife, Cathy, family, and close friends. He planned many month-long trips to Africa, Europe, China, Antarctica, South America, South East Asia, the South Pacific, Bahamas and the Caribbean. The most exciting excursion he experienced was his honeymoon with Cathy on their around-the-world Concorde tour.

As an expert skier, he heli-skied all over the world, including St. Moritz, Whistler, Bugaboos, Mont Blanc, the Annapruna and Everest regions, and Iceland. Most of all he loved skiing in Klosters, Switzerland. He loved playing golf and enjoyed courses on every continent except Antarctica. Hockey, tennis and waterskiing were also favorite sports.

Angus was a member of the Blackhawk Golf and Country Club in Danville, California, the Yellowstone Club in Big Sky, Montana and the Toscana Golf and Country Club in Indian Wells, California.

Angus will be dearly missed by his family and friends. A Celebration of Life will be held during the Summer. In Lieu of flowers a donation to Lakefield College School Foundation, 4391 County Road 29, Lakefield, Ontario, Canada K0L 2H0, www.lcs.on.ca; or a donation to Cure Cervical Cancer, 468 North Camden Drive, Second Floor, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, www.curecervicalcancer.org, in his honor, will be received with gratitude by his family.