1924
John
2014
John McDonald
November 5, 1924 — August 9, 2014
Dr. John Leo (Jack) Mc Donald, 89, passed on Friday, August 8, 2014, at his residence in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, formerly he was living in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.
John was born November 5, 1924 in Cleveland, Ohio, the first of the two children of Anna Marie Koeppel Mc Donald and Leo Winibald McDonald.
John graduated from Hunter College and at Case Western Reserve University, completed two PhD's, in Fine Arts and in Education. He was employed by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York before teaching 6th grade at Canterbury Elementary, in1952, in the Cleveland Heights - University Heights school district. In 1970 he became Principle of Roxboro Elementary School. He retired in 1984.
John was a member of the Cleveland Heights Historical Society. In 2000 he joined the Historic Landmarks Commission of the City of Cleveland Heights and quickly made himself known as the resident expert on the architectural and social history of the Fairmount Boulevard neighborhood. During his tenure on the Landmark Commission, nine properties were listed as Cleveland Heights Landmarks, including the William R. Jeavons House, the Joseph R. & Elizabeth Nutt-St. Ann Convent House, and the Grant W. Deming House and Carriage House. According to Cleveland Heights city planner Kara O'Donnell, John's memory was impressive, ranging from childhood memories of Cleveland Heights to the families who had inhabited those grand homes and to which architect designed what home. He also had a great memory of working at Roxboro School and remembered standing up to remodelers when the District planned to gut the lovely auditorium, saving it for future generations.
John was also, one of the founding members of the Historic Fairmount Association. His interest in gardens and community service inspired John and partner, Arden Smay, to organize an annual fall leaf collection for Carmel of the Holy Family OCD.
John loved art, gardens, and architecture for the serenity it brought to a chaotic world. His home was a museum, representing work from the High Renaissance to the Romantic period. In the 1990's John and Arden's house was featured in HGTV's Dream Drives, a program showcasing homes of historical and design distinction, for its architecture and fine arts collection.
He leaves partner Arden Willis Smay of Tarentum, Pennsylvania, brother Robert Bruce McDonald of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, nieces Pamela Mattson McDonald of Astoria, Oregon, Nancy McDonald Meinken of Green Oaks, Illinois, and nephew Robert Scott McDonald of West Seattle, Washington. John leaves a grand-niece, Alex Meinken of Miami, Florida and grand-nephew Christopher Meinken of Chicago, Illinois.
A graveside service will be held at 11 am on Saturday, August 16 at Lake View Cemetery, 12316 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland Ohio. Guides at the Mayfield gate will escort those who wish to honor John by their presence.
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John was born November 5, 1924 in Cleveland, Ohio, the first of the two children of Anna Marie Koeppel Mc Donald and Leo Winibald McDonald.
John graduated from Hunter College and at Case Western Reserve University, completed two PhD's, in Fine Arts and in Education. He was employed by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York before teaching 6th grade at Canterbury Elementary, in1952, in the Cleveland Heights - University Heights school district. In 1970 he became Principle of Roxboro Elementary School. He retired in 1984.
John was a member of the Cleveland Heights Historical Society. In 2000 he joined the Historic Landmarks Commission of the City of Cleveland Heights and quickly made himself known as the resident expert on the architectural and social history of the Fairmount Boulevard neighborhood. During his tenure on the Landmark Commission, nine properties were listed as Cleveland Heights Landmarks, including the William R. Jeavons House, the Joseph R. & Elizabeth Nutt-St. Ann Convent House, and the Grant W. Deming House and Carriage House. According to Cleveland Heights city planner Kara O'Donnell, John's memory was impressive, ranging from childhood memories of Cleveland Heights to the families who had inhabited those grand homes and to which architect designed what home. He also had a great memory of working at Roxboro School and remembered standing up to remodelers when the District planned to gut the lovely auditorium, saving it for future generations.
John was also, one of the founding members of the Historic Fairmount Association. His interest in gardens and community service inspired John and partner, Arden Smay, to organize an annual fall leaf collection for Carmel of the Holy Family OCD.
John loved art, gardens, and architecture for the serenity it brought to a chaotic world. His home was a museum, representing work from the High Renaissance to the Romantic period. In the 1990's John and Arden's house was featured in HGTV's Dream Drives, a program showcasing homes of historical and design distinction, for its architecture and fine arts collection.
He leaves partner Arden Willis Smay of Tarentum, Pennsylvania, brother Robert Bruce McDonald of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, nieces Pamela Mattson McDonald of Astoria, Oregon, Nancy McDonald Meinken of Green Oaks, Illinois, and nephew Robert Scott McDonald of West Seattle, Washington. John leaves a grand-niece, Alex Meinken of Miami, Florida and grand-nephew Christopher Meinken of Chicago, Illinois.
A graveside service will be held at 11 am on Saturday, August 16 at Lake View Cemetery, 12316 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland Ohio. Guides at the Mayfield gate will escort those who wish to honor John by their presence.
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