Donald I. McLeod, 84

A generous kind man with seven daughters

Aug. 19, 1935 – Aug. 27, 2019

— Donald I. McLeod died at his Rocky Hill home on August 27. He was 84.

Don was born in Baltimore, Maryland to John Young McLeod and Jessie Steedman McLeod. Don’s parents each emigrated to the United States from Scotland; met and married in Buffalo, NY in 1927; and eventually settled in Baltimore in 1935.

Don attended McDonogh School in Owings Mills, Maryland and graduated in 1953. He played the trombone and was a Chevrolet enthusiast. Don was a Boy Scout and later a Boy Scout Leader.

After earning a degree in business and industrial management from Johns Hopkins University in 1957, Don worked at Black & Decker as an industrial engineer. He joined the Army National Guard and served in the Chemical Corps Training Command as a First Lieutenant and advanced rapidly to the rank of Major before he was honorably discharged.

He left Black & Decker in 1961 for Johns Hopkins University, where he had a long and varied career. He was a research staff assistant for the Laboratory of Astrophysics from 1961 to 1967, a director of financial management from 1968 to 1974, and a director in the School of Hygiene and Public Health until his retirement in 1990.

In his spare time, Don was passionate about the genealogy of the McLeod family. He also journeyed frequently around the United States with his family, photographically documenting his adventures in detail.

Don was active in the American Red Cross Disaster Services, and participated on site in the recovery services following disasters. He loved model trains and was a member of the Toy Train Collectors Association.

He and Lenore were active members of the Unitarian Congregation of Princeton.

After retiring, Don and his wife Lenore explored the world, traveling to six of the seven continents, spending summers at their idyllic island in the Canadian wilderness, and enjoying the company of their extended family and friends.

Don is survived by his wife Lenore Blake Danielson, sister Peggy Hull, and seven daughters and their families: Kathy and Bob Rehak and their son Matthew; Linda McLeod and Dean Barber; Joanice and Dan Rein and their children Nick and Jessie Uline; Dee and Paul Siliciano and their children Rob and Marie; Debra Danielson and Scott Meister; Susan and Dave Bonfield and their children Matt, Luke, and Carrie; and Sandy and John Quirinale and their children Eric and Branden.

Don was a generous, kind and proud man, a devoted husband, and caring father and grandfather. He is beloved by all and will be greatly missed.

The family will host a celebration of Don’s life at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Princeton on November 29 at 2 pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research or the Rocky Hill First Aid & Rescue Squad. ■