With profound sorrow, we announce the passing of Stan Macdonald on February 3, 2026, at the age of 95, in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Stan was born in Sydney, Nova Scotia, on January 16, 1931, to the late Alexander R. (“Big Alex”) and Pauline Elizabeth (MacMillan) Macdonald. Stan’s early education was at St. Joseph’s School and Sydney Academy. One of his cherished memories was being a member of Sydney Academy’s Juvenile Hockey Team and winning the 1948 Maritime Championship. During his formative years, he worked for his uncle, W.T. Lynch & Sons, as a salesman and also with his father at the Sydney Steel Mill. In 1959, Stan joined Nestlé Canada Ltd. and spent 29 years with the company.

In 1955, Stan married Jeanette McKenzie, a nurse from Sydney. They had one daughter, Claire Marie Birdsall, who resides with her husband, Steven, in Vero Beach, Florida. Throughout their 52-year marriage, they relocated several times for career opportunities with Nestlé. They lived in Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland, and Ontario. Stan continued to pursue further education through correspondence and evening classes, including two years at LaSalle University of Chicago, three years at the University of Toronto, two years at Seneca College in Toronto, and immersion courses at the University of Waterloo, King’s College, and St. Mary’s in Halifax.

Upon his retirement in 1988, Stan held the esteemed position of National Sales and Marketing Manager for Nestlé’s Custom Packaging Division and Hills Bros. Coffee (a subsidiary of Nestlé). Family and friends were utmost in Stan’s life, but his professional career was very important to him. He held Nestlé in the highest regard, considering it the best company ever !

Stan and Jeanette settled in Sydney, spending their winters at their second residence in Four Seasons Park, Largo, Florida. During this time, Stan actively participated in various committees, including serving as park president for two consecutive years. He also enjoyed playing golf in both countries. In 1996, they relocated from Sydney to Dartmouth, where they resided until Jeanette’s passing in 2007. Stan’s personal life was marked by love. He married his second wife, Joan Holmes (Halifax), in 2009. They continued to spend their winters in Florida. For thirteen years, they embarked on international travel, exploring numerous European countries, as well as participating in several European, Caribbean, and Alaskan cruises.

Stan was a devout Catholic who made significant contributions to the construction of five churches. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and served as a Senior Counselor with United Commercial Travelers of America, a non-profit fraternal organization dedicated to community service in both Canada and the United States, for over fifty years.

Stan is survived by his wife, Joan; daughter Claire (Steven) Birdsall; and several nieces and nephews: Anslem, Stan, Terrence, and Margaret MacDonald; Michele, Janet, and Paul McKinnon. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Jeanette; brother, A.R. (Derrick) MacDonald and wife Margaret; sister-in-law, Kaye and husband Michael McKinnon; sisters-in-law Donna Henniger and Gwen Pero. He was also predeceased by three nieces: Brenda McKinnon, Corinne MacDonald, and Shauna (MacDonald) Doolan.

A visitation will take place at T.J. Tracey Cremation and Burial Specialists, 6 Churchill Drive, Sydney, on Wednesday, August 12, from 9 – 10 am with a funeral service following in the Chapel, Fr. Joe MacKenzie officiating. Burial will take place in Resurrection Cemetery.

Words of comfort may be shared with the family by visiting www.tjtracey.com.