Dr. J. Cameron MacDonald, MD. F.R.C.P.C

Cape Breton born, Dr. J. Cameron MacDonald MD. F.R.C.P.C, was a radiologist, husband, dad, grandfather and great grandfather. He was king of the grand gesture, irreverent to the core and a truly funny and charming soul who  loved to say,with his exaggerated bluster, ”He went to his ETERNAL reward”. He did just that on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021 in Windsor, Ontario 2 days shy of his 96th birthday. Cam married the love of his life Katie Traynor in Saint John, New Brunswick on July 6, 1949. They met at St. Francis Xavier University and Cam always said that “Katie had the courage to marry me and the stamina to stay with me and loved me more than I ever deserved. Katie is the reason for any and every success I have ever had.” Cam and Katie were married for 72 years.

Katie put Cam through school and after graduation from Dalhousie Medical School they set off on an adventure together. They took over a rural medical practice in the Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia, and the riotous stories ensued. They were 40 miles and a ferry ride from the nearest hospital. Cam looked after 1200 people, delivered 57 babies at home, told time by the tides and got paid in lobster. With 2 toddlers at home Katie decided not to take the ferry to Saint John to have their third baby and the oven door became an incubator for their own this time. Mary Elizabeth “Betts”, was delivered at home and Cam always described her as his “original do-it-yourself project”. In 2008 Cam and Katie turned those stories into an award-winning memoir entitled The Island Doctor.  

Cam lived life to the fullest and he and Katie were an extraordinary team. They moved to Philadelphia where Cam trained in radiology and then off to Windsor for 6 months which turned into 60 years and a lifetime of successful practice in diagnostic radiology. And the door was always open. In a big way. Anybody who needed a safe place to land was welcome at our house and that feeling was omnipresent. It was a great world to grow up in. A world we all choose to emulate. We recognize it in our extended family. Tom Traynor, Katie's brother, continued the tradition. It makes the world a better place.

Cam was a relentless champion of improvement in the world of radiology and mammography standards and training. He succeeded in making a significant contribution to innovations in the treatment and diagnosis of breast cancer. Cam was also honoured that McMaster University chose his practice to run a study. It was a professional highlight for Cam to work with Dr. Giles Stephenson.

Cam was Chief of Radiology at Windsor Western Hospital. He owned and managed 5 independent X-ray office locations, significantly impacted the world of dental imaging and accelerated the adaptation of sophisticated new technology by bringing state-of-the-art imaging systems, equipment and training to Windsor, Ontario.

Cam was an insatiably curious and lifelong student who continued to take courses at Harvard to stay current in his field and retired from diagnostic radiology only at 92. He loved what he did and adored helping friends and family navigate the complicated labyrinth of medical care. It was his forte. His extensive clinical experience informed his speciality in radiology and for Cam it was all about solving the puzzle. His work was invaluable. From his digital command centre in Windsor he once diagnosed his son-in-law in a Winnipeg ER parking lot. A diagnosis confirmed minutes later by ultrasound. The Winnipeg physicians were grateful and impressed. 

Cam was born January 30, 1925 in Sydney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia to The Hon. Finlay MacDonald, KC, MP for Cape Breton South 1925-35 and Olive Guthrie MacDonald, MA, a teacher of speech. Cameron attended Sydney Academy, St. Francis Xavier University, Dalhousie University Medical School, the University of Pennsylvania, Penn Medicine, Department of Radiology and continued to attend Harvard University both online and in person. 

Cam’s was a life well lived. He was an avid sailor, bon vivant, raconteur and world traveler always ready with a quip and a story or a chorus of Everybody Loves Somebody which he performed hilariously badly. Life was a never-ending lavish party full of laughs. Family and Christmas Eve parties were legendary and any excuse for champagne, Pimms by the pool, an 18 yr old Macallan or swirling a Bloody Mary on the stern of the Princess. We will miss him enormously.

And one more thing. Cam always said that "babies always come on important family days" and in Halifax Emmett Ryan and Brittany Orchard, Cam's grandnephew and his wife, have just welcomed a beautiful baby girl named Hannah Mary into the world and it just so happens that she shares Cam's, her great granduncle's, birthday - January 30th. Cam would be so pleased. And he would insist on a champagne toast! 

Cam leaves his wife, Katie MacDonald, and their 3 surviving children Ellen (Terry MacLeod) of Winnipeg, MB; Mary Elizabeth “Betts” of Windsor, ON;  Michael (Joanne) of Sydney, Australia; 7 Grandchildren: Allison MacDonald (Scott Young) of Toronto, ON, Kit MacLeod of Vancouver, BC, Heather MacDonald of Toronto, ON, Finn MacLeod of Chicago, IL, Lauren McClinton of Toronto, ON,  Cameron M. MacDonald III of Sydney, Aus, Caylen MacDonald of Sydney, Aus; Great Grandchild: Charlotte Young of Toronto, ON; Nephew, Ian MacDonald (Sandra Campbell) of Halifax, NS; Nieces: Kathleen (Caspar Robson) of London, UK, Nanci and Patti Traynor of Toronto, ON; Grandnieces: Sonja MacDonald (Alastair MacNiven) of Halifax, NS, Katherine Ryan-Rankin (Craig) of Halifax, NS, Dana MacDonald of Halifax, NS, Ava Robson of London, UK; Grandnephew: Emmett Ryan (Brittany Orchard) of Halifax, NS;  Great Grandnephews: Finlay Rankin of Halifax, NS., Campbell MacNiven of Halifax, NS.; Great Grandniece: Hannah Mary Ryan of Halifax, NS.; Honourary niece: Mary Pat MacKenzie of Cape Cod; Friends: Bob Clark, Barbara Kersey and Betty McManus. Ellie Wiess expresses love through food and has offered Katie and Cam tender loving care with everything from her delicious butter chicken to her magnificent lasagne. Bertha Escoto, an extraordinary friend and caregiver is the best adopted sister we could hope for and we are grateful she is in our lives. 

Predeceased by his eldest son Cameron MacDonald II (Valerie,Susan) (2009); brother, Senator Finlay MacDonald (Lynn Tremblay, Ann MacKenzie) (2002); father, The Hon. Finlay MacDonald, KC MP(1948); mother, Olive E. Guthrie MacDonald, MA (1974); nephew, M. Finlay MacDonald (2005); niece, Mary Jane MacDonald (Kevin Ryan) (2015).

We would like to thank Dr. Abdullah Aboulisayen and his team including: Rena and Amy of Metropolitan Campus, Windsor Health Authority for their exceptional care.Thanks also to Amanda in communications for connecting Dad to family when we couldn’t meet in person. We are grateful to all of these skilled professionals who were so patient and kind in the face of a very strong-willed fellow physician. 

Funeral service and internment to be scheduled, when it is safe to do so,at St. Mary’s Anglican Church, Olde Walkerville, Windsor, ON, Canada. Naturally, a piper will be in attendance.

Memorial donations may be made to Mercy Ships Unit 5-3318 Oak St. Victoria, BC Canada V8X 1R1 https://mercyships.ca/ 

Many years ago, Cam delivered a wee babe on the island and that babe chose a career on the Mercy Ships. That really struck a chord with Cam.

Lovingly written by Ellen MacDonald