James P. MacDonald

Southern Shores – James P. MacDonald (Jim) died unexpectedly at Sentara Heart Hospital in Norfolk, Virginia, on December 19, 2014.  Born on January 16, 1944, in Brooklyn New York to Marjorie Pell Burford MacDonald and James Joseph MacDonald, Jim graduated from Bayside High School in the spring of 1960 and immediately enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving in the Submarine Service.  After his tour of duty was over, he majored in Political Science at Queens College in New York before leaving to forge a lifelong career in data services and telecommunications industry.

Throughout his thirty-five year career, Jim held various senior executive positions at Fortune 500 companies such as Tymnet, GTE Spacenet, MCI, British Telecom, Worldcom and other pioneers in the Telecommunications industry.  Jim traveled the world and excelled as a leader with the ability to develop highly successful teams that obtained quantifiable results.  After Jim’s retirement, in 2008, Jim and his wife Deb fulfilled one of their dreams and moved from Northern Virginia to the Outer Banks of North Carolina.  They created a new home in Southern Shores that during summers is transformed into a vacation haven for his children and grandchildren.

Jim has a legacy of volunteerism, service and outreach.  He was President of the Board of Directors at Dare Coalition Against Substance Abuse; served on the Board for OBX Room In the Inn, a faith-based homeless shelter program; elected to a three year term on the Vestry of All Saints Episcopal Church and most recently was the Chairperson for their 2015 Stewardship campaign; was active in Fellowship for Christian Athletes, Children and Youth Partnership in Dare County State of the Child Conference 2014, Missions of Mercy and the Outer Banks Relief Foundation.

Jim had a deep and lasting belief in the spiritual power of AA. He was inspired speaker and leader in AA meetings large and small and spoke about the principles of AA with a special blend of humor and wisdom.

Jim will be remembered for his dry wit, great smile, warmth, and a deep love of his family and friends. He was an avid Redskins and Penn State football fan, enjoyed golfing, walking on the beach with Deb and their lab puppy, Maisie. His greatest joy was being surrounded by his children and grandchildren.  He will be sorely missed but remembered for his soul is within each person he touched, counseled and spent time with.

Jim is survived by his wife, Deb, and his  seven children: Jamie and his spouse Ellen in Reston, Virginia; Christopher and his spouse Susan in Leesburg, Virginia; Jennifer and her husband Nathan Reedy in Nokesville, Virginia; Sarah in Reston, Virginia; David in Purcellville, Virginia; Adam and his wife Megan in Purcellville, Virginia and John in Little Falls, New Jersey.  His  seven grandchildren: Lauren and Aaron MacDonald in Reston, Virginia; Kyla and Tegan MacDonald in Leesburg, Virginia; Amelia and Jacob Reedy in Nokesville, Virginia and Ruthie MacDonald in Purcellville, Virginia.  His sisters Janet Adikes and Judy Scarff in Clearwater, Florida, and Jennifer Macdonald of Bayside, New York and many loved nieces and nephews.

The family of Jim MacDonald is very grateful for the overwhelming support and prayers of from the All Saints Parish, family and friends from around the world.  In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the Dare Coalition Against Substance Abuse at P.O. Box 3604, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948.

Services will be held at All Saints Episcopal Church in Southern Shores at 11:00am on Saturday, December 27th, with the Reverend Thomas Wilson officiating.  A Celebration of Jim’s Life reception will be held immediately following at Duck Woods Country Club.

Condolences to the family may be expressed via the on-line register at www.gallopfuneralservices.com. Gallop Funeral Services Inc were entrusted with the arrangements.