John Stephan MacDonald, adoring husband of Maggie (the feeling was mutual), father of six children, with five grandchildren, and beloved member of the Knoxville community, entered eternal life on Jan. 6 following a year-long battle with cancer. His faith and family were his heart and soul.
Born as the fourth child of 10 to Sam and Esther MacDonald in Knoxville in 1953. Mr. MacDonald attended St. Mary School and Knoxville Catholic High School (where, according to him, he had the smoothest jump shot KCHS has ever seen). He graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in history. More importantly, at UT he met Maggie Prochaska (on the third Saturday in October) and spent the next 50 years together as true college sweethearts.
Following their wedding in 1978, they moved into a little, 900-square-foot cottage that would evolve into their lifelong home. As their family grew, and grew, so did that little cottage. Together, John and Maggie transformed it into a gathering place with an open-door policy for family and friends alike. It became the scene of many Rolling Stones singalongs, dance parties, cookouts, and colorful discussions.
Their large front porch and courtyard will forever echo with Mr. MacDonald’s legendary stories and jokes. Their partnership brought not only a full basketball-sized team and a spare but also service to the community through their church, the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Knoxville Catholic High School, and Children’s Hospital. Mr. MacDonald co-founded Catholic High’s Shamrock Open golf tournament, raising funds for the school over the last 37 years.
Mr. MacDonald began his lifelong career as a stockbroker at JC Bradford and enjoyed the occasional Friday night at The Bistro.
Mr. MacDonald was a lover of all things classic. Even as a young college student, he spent hard-earned money on the classic book of the month club. Today, his bookshelves are lined with that beautiful leatherbound collection. With contagious enthusiasm, he introduced the next generation to the iconic books, movies, and rock ’n’ roll that he so loved.
Another notable classic is Mr. and Mrs. MacDonald’s Buick Roadmaster. You may have seen it. It was a car large enough to cart around a band of kids, and they would clock countless miles over the years going down Interstate 26 to the Carolina coast and through Petticoat Junction to the beloved MacDonald family cabin on Norris Lake. He was happiest in these places surrounded by those he loved and by whom he was adored.
Mr. MacDonald is preceded in death by his parents, Sam and Esther MacDonald, and his older sister, Anna McNair. He is survived by his wife, Maggie; their six children, John Michael (Elaine), Mary LeMay (Richie), Margot Gattuso (Augustine), Madeline, Bonnie, and Jack; and five grandchildren, Jane, Caroline, Rosie, Trey, and Bo.
In addition to his immediate family, he was also integral to the lives of his nine brothers and sisters, Maggie’s six brothers and sisters, and his many, many nieces and nephews. He was Uncle John to countless others, whether blood kin or not, and he loved you as his own. With a twinkle in his eye and an unfiltered wit, he could get away with saying what others could not. This gift of levity allowed him to make us laugh when we wanted to cry. His heart of gold touched all who were lucky enough to know him.
A funeral Mass for Mr. MacDonald was celebrated at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on Jan. 12.
Donations in Mr. MacDonald’s memory can be made to the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Knoxville Catholic High School, or East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.
