RW Bro Donald George MacKenzie Fitzgerald, age 90, passed away peacefully with his loving family by his side on January 7, 2025.
Born in Glasgow, Scotland, September 2, 1934, Don was the son of George and Georgina MacKenzie. Don was predeceased in November 2023, by Fiona, his loving wife of 62 years, his parents George and Georgina (Ina), step-father George Fitzgerald and half-brother George. He is survived by daughters, Morven and Catriona, granddaughters Megan and Brianna and great-granddaughter Felicity. He also leaves behind his beloved cat, Mia and loyal adoring wee dog Bailey who both offered hours of comfort in Don’s final days.
Four months prior to Don’s birth, George MacKenzie passed away and Georgina remarried George Fitzgerald when Don was 5. Raised in Glasgow, Don spent much of his childhood in Perth during WWII with fondest memories of fishing on the River Tay, running through the hills of Craigie Knowes and playing football. Don left school on a Friday at the age of 15 and started working on Monday at Clydesdale and North Scotland Bank.
At 18, Don joined the Corps of Royal Military Police and following 6 months of training, served 18 months as a Lance Corporal in the Suez Canal Zone in Egypt living in a tent and riding a motorcycle in the desert before returning to Glasgow.
In 1956 Don was recruited by the Bank of Commerce in London, Ontario and was brought to Canada by 1st class steamer. Five years later, Don returned to Glasgow on vacation to reunite with “wee girl” Fiona, and following a short courtship they were married in Glasgow in 1962 and honeymooned in London, England before beginning life together in Canada. It was in 1976 in Cape Breton that Don and Fiona were proud to become Canadian citizens. Most of Don’s early career was spent working with the Federal Business Development Bank (now BDC, formerly known as IBDC) which led to frequent transfers between Ontario and Nova Scotia. The final transfer led the family back to the Halifax area where Fiona stayed home to raise the family while Don travelled extensively for business.
Alongside his career, Don was an active member with the Rotary Club of Halifax, Friends of Citadel, and Halifax Board of Trade. In 1987, Fiona and Don opened Celtic Traditions as the gateway to enjoying 25 years of sharing the products, customs and stories of their much-missed homeland with many local and international friends and customers, as well as enjoying founding membership with the British Isles Club.
Don was a longtime Freemason, initiated into St. Andrew's Lodge No.1 in 1989 and serving as Master of the Lodge in 1996 and again in 2014. He was Secretary from 2000-2010 and served as a District Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia in 2010-2011. He affiliated with Fairview Lodge 126 in 2022. Highly regarded as a great friend, mentor and Brother to many Masons, his wise counsel will be surely missed.
Raising a family of all girls was no easy feat, yet Don managed to take it in stride with hobbies such as collecting rocks on many wonderful family outings and vacations (one of which saw him return without a knee cap) to later be polished into keepsakes, beer making (to Morven’s pleasure) and wine making (to Catriona’s pleasure), family game nights, conducting culinary experiments, playing soccer with Brianna, crosswords, astronomy, geology, darts, International folk dancing, and performing as an extra in the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo – all to the delight of his girls who already miss him dearly.
A Celebration of Don’s Life will take place on Saturday, January 18 at Calvin Presbyterian Church, 3311 Ashburn Ave commencing with a Masonic Service at 1:15 followed by Church Service at 2:00. Your presence will be welcomed at one or both services.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Masonic Foundation of Nova Scotia High School Bursary Program, Calvin Presbyterian Church, a charity of your choosing or the gift of life through a blood donation in honor of Don.
The family would like to take this opportunity to thank and acknowledge the many visitors Don received over the last few months, the ongoing support from the Freemasons, and the care and compassion received from the staff and volunteers at the VG Palliative Care Team, VON and Closing the Gap.
