Obituary: Clive MacDonald, "carpentrepreneur" and "a rebel without a cause"

The following is a reader-submitted obituary.

Clive George MacDonald died on Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012 at his home in Arkville, NY surrounded by his family and friends. The cause of death was cancer.

Born July 8, 1945 in Coventry, England, the son of George and Kathleen (née Northover) MacDonald, he moved to Canada with his parents and three of his five brothers in 1951. The family then moved to Long Island in 1957 where he attended Farmingdale High School. Clive served in the US Navy from 1965-1969 as an electrician on the aircraft carrier Kearsage. He married Elizabeth Kuless Shaw in 1990.

A resident of the Catskills since the early 1970s, he worked as an electrician, plumber and, in his words, a “carpentrepreneur.” For several years in the early 1980s he was a cab driver and the manager for a multi-media studio in New York City. An eye for style, design, and value made him a talented picker at yard sales as well as a good craftsman. He was a jack-of-all-trades and rebel without a cause. He was an adept first baseman in local and Woodstock softball leagues, playing on the championship Deli-Cart Heroes team. A natural athlete, MacDonald enjoyed speed skating, skiing and, more recently, pickleball. With an air of confidence and a sharp wit, his interests were myriad and included long drives, poker, and practical jokes.

MacDonald is survived by his beloved daughter Holly of Arkville, and Northampton MA, and two stepdaughters, Dara Weiss Heinlein of Phoenicia and Heather Weiss Asencio of Queens. Also surviving are his brothers Neil, Keith, Brian, Glen, and Ian, their wives and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents and wife. Clive’s many friends, former companions, and fellow poker and pickleball players will miss the intelligent sense of humor, talented problem-solving and clever personality that Clive shared with all.

A celebration of life will be held at his home in Arkville in August. The family appreciates and encourages donations to Catskill Area Hospice at 116 Main Street, Delhi, NY 13753.

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