MacDONALD, Ken

Born in Moncton (Humphrey’s Mills) NB on 9 Nov 1932, I received my formal education at the Sunny Brae Elementary School and Moncton High School. During this period I was very active in the YMCA.  I joined the Army on 19 Aug 1950 and upon graduating from Basic Training in Camp Borden, I was sent to the Physical Training Wing of the Royal Canadian School of Infantry and placed on a Unit PT Instructor Course, after which, because of my previous YMCA experience, I was immediately taken on staff. On 1 Aug 1953 I married Edith Marie (Dunn) and we raised 4 children; Lori, Kim, Heidi and Dayle. I stayed on the PT staff of the evolving Physical Education and Recreation branch for 10 years then served in Camp Gagetown, CFB Shilo, NDHQ, RMC, CFB Kingston and HMCS Naden where I took my release on 19 Aug 1980, exactly 30 years after joining. A Sgt at age 20, I was heavily involved in gymnastics, diving and aquatics. I was CFR’d in 1964 from the rank of MWO. In Mar 1985 my wife Edie passed away after a long bout with MS. On 31 Dec 1985 I married Yvonne (Cheesman). After retirement, I worked with Maritime Life for a few years, then took a Class C call out and worked with the Air Cadets at their Gliding School in Princeton, at PacRegHQ Cadet Training Division as the Admin Officer for PacReg Air Cadets and at the Air Cadet Camp in Albert Head as the DCO, until they kicked me out at age 65. Yvonne and I travel a LOT to escape our peaceful bungalow-style townhouse in Esquimalt to be away for our birthdays. (They don’t happen if you aren’t home to celebrate them with all of your kids, who are now so-o-o-o old!). Between us we have 8 children, 13 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. Still do a bit of curling and golf and get into deep ca-ca from Yvonne for spending so much time working on the Periscope Website.

MORE at   http://www.rmcclub.ca/everitaswp/?cat=30

RCS of I PT WING STAFF Circa 1954 at CAMP BORDEN

Back row L to R – Jack Savage; Ken MacDonald; Buzz Bezaire; Jim Brister; Rheo Lavigne

Seated L to R – Andy Maxwell; John Gillanders; Jim Grindley and "Willy" Johns (Adm)

 

1959 Canadian Team Gymnastics Champions

Cpl Gerry Lindner        Cpl Willie Weiler     S/Sgt Ken MacDonald