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STAMFORD, Conn. Alexander D. McDonald died May 31 at his home in Stamford. He was 82.
He was the son of Peter and Joan Smith McDonald, who emigrated to the United States from Scotland in the early 20th century. Born Sept. 25, 1929, and raised in Syracuse, N.Y., McDonald graduated from Cornell University with a B.S. in civil engineering.
After college, he worked as a structural engineer in Morocco designing airfields for use by the Strategic Air Command of the U.S. Air Force in response to the Korean War. Upon returning to the United States, McDonald moved to New York City and joined a large engineering firm before moving to Stamford.
McDonald was a resident of Stamford for more than 50 years and much of the city's skyline is the legacy of his professional efforts. In 1972, he formed the structural engineering firm McDonald & van der Poll with Andy van der Poll.
The firm provided engineering services for many of the buildings that now define the city, including the Landmark Square complex, many of the office buildings and hotels along Tresser Boulevard, the Stamford Center for the Arts, Stamford Superior Court, Stamford Landing complex, Stamford Town Center and High Ridge Office Park complex.
McDonald took pleasure in donating his professional services to projects for the Boys and Girls Club of Stamford, exhibit space at the Stamford Museum and Nature Center and the Holocaust Memorial in Scarsdale, N.Y.
In his retirement, McDonald wrote extensively as a poet, worked in his rose garden and became a gourmet cook. For many years his family could learn what was to be served for Sunday dinner by reading the recipes in that day's New York Times magazine.
He was predeceased by his wife of 47 years, Anne Byrnes McDonald; three sisters, Euphemia "Fay" Weaver, Margaret Solberg and Joan Bealer. McDonald is survived by three sons, Peter (Nancy) McDonald, of Monroe, Conn., Walter (Narci) McDonald, of Stamford, and Andrew (Charles Gray) McDonald, of Stamford; a daughter, Annie (Ted Marcuccio) McDonald, of Rockville, Md.; five grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
There was a service for family and friends Tuesday at Leo P. Gallagher and Son Funeral Home in Stamford. Burial followed at Queen of Peace Cemetery in Stamford.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Save the Children, 54 Wilton Road, Westport, CT 06880.
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