(18 Feb. 1904-Jan. 1989) teacher, charity worker. Born at Apple Hill, GC, the twin of his sister Josephine, later Mrs John Daniels. Parents: Hugh A. MacDonell (1863-1945) and his wife Mary Ann MacDonell (1866-1935). He served in the RCAF in World War II. He and his wife lived in Renfrew and in Hamilton, then moved to Alexandria in 1949, where he became shop work teacher at Alexandria High School. A genial, outwardly easygoing, deeply-reflective man, as intensely strong-minded in his own way (though with a very different personality) as the formidable Principal J. T. Smith, he made himself an influence in the high school far beyond his own department. An uncompromising guardian of the academic standards of what was, in fact, academically a very good high school, he himself had no doubt that there were more important things to do in the high school than shop work, diligently though he attended to his own teaching of students, and that severely self-denying valuation from a man of undoubted character was itself for upwardly mobile youth an important preparation for life. In retirement especially, he was active in a great many charitable and public-service activities. He worked in support of organizations which included Child Haven and the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. He was also one of the founders of an association for the mentally challenged in the Glengarry area, and of the Harmony Glen School in Alexandria, which later became the T. R. Leger School for Alternative Studies. Roman Catholic. He is buried in St. Finnan’s cemetery. He was married to Fidelis Stafford (1 May 1904-15 Dec. 1981) of Renfrew, Ont., and Montreal

Personal knowledge, private information * good line portrait, Glengarry News 1 Feb. 1989 * obituary of his wife, GN 22 Dec. 1981 * obituary of Mrs Daniels, GN 30 Sept. 1998 * visits Peru, India, GN 9 Feb. 1983, 19 March 1986 * to be honoured at dinner by Child Haven, GN 17 Aug. 1988 (biog. data)