Gary J. MacDonald (67), of Hamden, CT, passed away peacefully in his sleep on June 17, 2024. He was born in Boston, MA on November 17, 1956, a son of the late John A. MacDonald and Barbara A. MacDonald (Sprague). Gary is loved and missed by his wife Sue (Fandrich) of Hamden, his daughter Lauren Jacobson (MacDonald) and her husband Jonathan of Stamford, son Ryan MacDonald and his wife Kendall (Baker) of Winsted, grandson Ezra Jacobson of Stamford, brother Dr. Tobey MacDonald and his wife Kelly (Chelf) of Decatur, GA, sister Carol Marshall and her husband Bill of Hingham, MA, and aunt Joanne McDonald of East Falmouth, MA. Gary was predeceased by his sister Pamela Collins-Shimkus, of Reidsville, NC. He thoroughly enjoyed spending time with his many nieces and nephews.

Gary was married to Sue for forty-three years and cherished his family. His vibrant spirit lit up any room, and his gymnastic skills were unparalleled. He treasured his work and colleagues of Mechanical Solutions Inc. which he started with Ken Reynolds and the late Robert Upton over thirty years ago.

He enjoyed golfing, skiing, dancing, going to the theater and concerts, hiking, attending work conferences, exercising, and was an avid Boston sports fan of the Patriots, Red Sox, Celtics, and Bruins. Gary's faith was also crucial to him, as he was an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion for the last fourteen years and previously served as co-Chairman of the Catholic Youth Organization at St. Joan of Arc Church. An adventurer at heart, some of Gary's favorite travel locations were Newport, RI, Lake Ontario, Cape Cod, and the Caribbean.

Family, friends, and others are invited to visit with Gary's family on Monday, June 24th to celebrate his life at Beecher & Bennett Funeral Home, 2300 Whitney Avenue, Hamden, from 8:30a.m. to 10:30a.m. followed by his Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul the VI Parish / Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, 2819 Whitney Avenue, Hamden. Contributions to the Holy Family Passionist Retreat, a center close to his heart, are appreciated at www.holyfamilyretreat.org/ways-of-giving. To send a condolence to his family, please visit www.beecherandbennett.com