Eldred H. MacDonell

Sept. 4, 1926 - Oct. 11, 2010
SOUTH BEND - Dr. Eldred Hugh MacDonell, 84, died peacefully at home on October 11, 2010, surrounded by his family. Eldred was born in Detroit, MI, on September 4, 1926. When he was seven, his family moved to Port Hood, Nova Scotia, Canada, where he enjoyed his boyhood years - swimming, fishing, immersing himself in books, and helping in his family's small hotel overlooking the ocean. Eldred graduated from St. Francis Xavier University in 1948 and continued his education at Dalhousie University Medical School in Halifax, Nova Scotia, from which he graduated in 1952. In 1954 Eldred met and married a beautiful girl from Glace Bay, Nova Scotia - Cleo MacKinnon - with whom he spent 52 loving and lively years. Eldred practiced for a brief time in a small rural community in Nova Scotia where he began a long history of house calls that continued even into his later years of practice in South Bend. Eldred then headed to Detroit for his residency in internal medicine at Henry Ford Hospital, where he served as Chief Resident. Upon completing his residency, Dr. MacDonell brought his young family to South Bend in 1960, where he practiced internal medicine and endocrinology at the South Bend Clinic for over 35 years. As a reflection of the high regard in which he was held by his colleagues in the medical community, Eldred served in several leadership positions, including Chief of Medicine at St. Joseph Hospital and President of the St. Joseph Medical Society. In addition to his clinic practice, Eldred cared for elderly priests and brothers at Notre Dame's Holy Cross House for nearly 20 years, working closely with his good friend, Father William Melody. He also provided medical care to those in need at the Chapin Street Clinic, where he worked for many years alongside its founder, the late Dr. Roland Chamblee. Among his many joys was expressing his Scottish heritage, from researching his genealogy and reading Robert Burns poetry to cheering for the caber toss at Highland games, attending special dinners wearing his kilt, and clapping and tapping along with Buddy or Natalie MacMaster's Cape Breton fiddling. An avid sports fan, he loved his Fighting Irish - and his cheers rang out (and back slaps rained down) especially heartily at football and hockey games. An athlete in his own right, he enjoyed tennis, hockey, jogging and golf, thereby singlehandedly supporting many of the orthopedic surgeons in the South Bend area with his sports-related injuries. Eldred also greatly looked forward to the annual trips to Vail with his South Bend ski-mates - where, well into their 70s, others would fly nonstop down the slopes while Eldred proceeded in his calm and deliberate style. With the trademark dedication and enthusiasm he brought to all endeavors, Eldred delighted in sharing his knowledge and passion for medicine with first-year medical students as an adjunct professor at Notre Dame, through a collaborative program with the Indiana University Medical School. Eldred was also a lifelong learner and took every opportunity to delve into history, art, science, and the traditions of other cultures, traveling widely with Cleo over the years and loving every experience. Eldred had a deep faith and was an active member of Little Flower Parish for over forty years. He conducted his life with the highest level of integrity, honesty and dedication. He was tirelessly devoted to his patients, with a gentle and loving nature, ever-present smile, and a calm and encouraging bedside manner. He demonstrated a deep intelligence and humility, earnest attention and commitment to each person, and an abiding kindness and compassion that were widely admired and beloved by patients and colleagues alike. Eldred was a loving and caring husband, brother, father and grandfather who always put the needs of his wife and family above his own. He was preceded in death by his loving wife Cleo in 2006, and a brother, Ronald (Combermere, Ontario, Canada) earlier this year. Eldred is survived by his sister, Elaine Pugsley (Don) of Halifax, Nova Scotia; his brother, Stanley (Muriel) of Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia; his daughter, Joanne (Gianni Santoddi) of Talamona, Italy; four sons, Ian (Becky Peppers) of Mishawaka, Keith (Margaret) of Northbrook, IL, Eldred Jr. (Liz) of Indianapolis and Don (Mary) of South Bend; and 12 grandchildren. A visitation is scheduled for 4 to 8 p.m., with Rosary at 6 p.m. today, October 14th, in the Kaniewski Funeral Home (3545 N. Bendix Drive, South Bend, IN 46628). A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 9:30 a.m. Friday, October 15th, in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, University of Notre Dame. Burial will follow at Cedar Grove Cemetery on the Notre Dame campus. Kaniewski Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements. For those who wish to send condolences online, please visit www.kaniewski.com. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Eldred MacDonell may be made to the Food Pantry of Little Flower Church (54191 Ironwood Road, South Bend IN 46635).