July 8, 2009
MacLellan, Donald H.
Donald Henry MacLellan, a resident of Westwood for 45 years, died Wednesday, July 8th, 2009 at his home in Westwood. He was 94. Donald was born in Portland, Maine on April 17, 1915 the last surviving child of Charles Arnold and Nellie Sadie (Greenough) MacLellan, immigrants from Nova Scotia, Canada. He graduated from Burdett College before serving in the US Army during World War Two. Don worked for 20 years as the accountant for Simplex Wire & Cable Company of Cambridge, Massachusetts, and then for LFE Corporation from where he retired in 1982. He was a member of American Legion Post 320 of Westwood, a Past Master of West Roxbury Lodge AF & AM, and a member, and past chaplain, of Eliot-Hyde Park Lodge AF & AM of Westwood. Don was a former member of the Stratford Street Baptist Church in West Roxbury, and the Islington Community Church of Westwood, where he had served as a deacon. His passion, however, was Boy Scouting. Don helped organize Troop 4 at the Stratford Street Church in 1940. He served as the Scoutmaster of Troop One in Islington for 25 years and saw 48 of his scouts rise to the rank of Eagle Scout. Donald served as the Unit Commissioner for the Boston Minuteman Council of Boy Scouts; he was the first recipient in Massachusetts of the Daniel Carter Beard Masonic Scouting Award; he held the Silver Beaver Award in Scouting; and the St. George’s Award from the Catholic Church. Donald was the father of the late Donald Henry MacLellan Jr., and the brother of the late Harold Arnold MacLellan, the late Frank Warren MacLellan, and the late Helen Hallenbach. He is survived by his wife, Estelle June (Cosgro) MacLellan; his son, Charles Joseph MacLellan of Novato, California; his daughter, Dorothy Jeanne Russell of Spanaway, Washington; as well as 3 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, August 8th at 11 AM at the First Baptist Church of Westwood, 808 High Street, Westwood. Burial will be in Gethsemane Cemetery, West Roxbury. In lieu of flowers donations to Eliot-Hyde ParK Lodge, 655 High Street, Westwood, MA 02090 or to the First Baptist Church, 808 High Street, Westwood, MA 02090 or to the Boston Minuteman Council, Boy Scouts of America, 411 Unquity Road, Milton, MA 02186 would be appreciated.
Comments(23)
Gramps, you will be greatly missed by all. You are an inspiration to Alejo and myself on living life to the fullest. I will miss your smile and your big hugs. Love you very much.
Hi Dad, on the way to church this morning, I heard the song “I Can Only Imagine” by the group MercyMe. In it they talk about how they imagine heaven will be like when they get there. I can only imagine the joy you must be feeling sitting at Jesus’ feet and the awe at being in His presence. I will miss your hugs, your laughter, and your words of encouragement for both Larry and me. Thank you for being my Dad. Love, Larry and Dorothy
grammps i will miss you so much and i wish you could have meet ralph. i will always rember your eyebrow trick that you would always do. i love you so much and i will see you again.
love always
Dear June and family,
Don has touched the lives of many in the Masonic and Scouting communities, as well as his church family.
He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loived him. Please know I am holding you close in my thoughts and prayers.
Love and Blessings,
Kenneth Shaw
Don will be sorely missed. He was always willing to step in to help wherever needed, and was a valuable asset to the crew on many blood drives. But, most of all, he was a good friend.
Don,
Thank you for your service to scouting and teaching me about commissioner service. You are an inspiration and have always been a role model for BSA volunteers!
…”Just listen to the boys”.
I was a scout with Troop Ten, Needham, during the 1980s, and remember Don fondly from when we’d mix with Troop One, Islington at Metacom District events and at Wild Goose Scout Camp during the summer. If the measure of a man is the number of lives he touched in a positive way, Don was one of the great ones.
Dear Aunt June and Family,
It’s hard to see a close relative pass. Especially
an Uncle as enjoyable, happy, and loving as Don.
It was always a pleasure to see him and Aunt June for the
holidays and family events. I will miss him and remember
the fun little games he used to like to play with his hands. Pease be always with you. Love, Debbie
Dear June, The Beckvold’s have many memories of Don, running into him and Troop1 in D.C all because we all had our red scout jackets on, taking a Scout leadership course in my preparation for WoodBadge Course and it turned out to be class of one and Don went on and ran it just for me. His love of Scouting has sent many Eagles on the flight of their lives. My husband Ed had a great respect for Don. May he rest in peace with our Lord, Fondly, Bobbie
Dear Aunt June & Family,
I will miss Uncle Don because of his warm hugs, laughter and love. He always gave a hug, a teasing remark (whether in person or on the phone) and he was just the most wonderful uncle to have. I enjoyed seeing both Aunt June & Uncle Don on the holidays, or my kids birthdays when they were small. When ever there was a family event, they were there until the last few years. I will deeply miss him and remember him fondly. With love, Beth
Dear Aunt June and Family,
It is sad to hear the passing of Uncle Don, our thoughts and prayers are with you all. As others have mentioned the lasting memories as a child visiting, Don you always made time for all of us to play games,joke around and make us laugh. You always had an energy about you, with a big smile, and that hand crushing hand shake I’ll never forget. When ever I saw you I would say,” it is good to see you!”, and your come back always was,”it’s good to be seen!”. Well that presence will greatly be missed, and I thank you both June and Don for the time we got to spend together at our family functions. God Bless… and may peace be with you. Ken.
Dear MacLellan Family,
I am heartbroken to learn of Don’s passing, but will always relish the memories of his friendship. One of my fondest memories of Don is at one of the first meetings after I became Camping Chairman for the old Greater Boston Council, BSA. There was a great deal of constant talk around the table of all of the things we wanted and needed to do, to the point of being almost overwhelming. I told everyone that we needed to prioritize what needed to be done and then get them done – one bite of the apple at a time. Don took me aside at the next monthly meeting and gave me a little 3” by 5” plaque that he made at home. He told me that I had inspired him with my enthusiasm and presented that plaque to me – the words on the plaque – “Don’t just talk about it – DO IT!” I still have that plaque on my desk and often reflect on Don and his always smiling face (can’t ever remember him not in a positive frame of mine). He has been an inspiration to me and so many others as a man who not only taught the Scout Oath and Law to young men, but lived it everyday. Don, may you now enjoy being in the company of the greatest Scoutmaster of all time. Till we meet again.
Warmest regards,
Michael Henderson
Dear Aunt June and Family
Uncle Don was truly a GREAT person. Always had a
welcoming smile and warm handshake. He always called on the holidays to say hello. He will be truly missed.
Love,
Glenn & Patty and family
The members of Eliot-Hyde Park Lodge will miss Bro. Don MacLellan and have appreciated the years of him serving as Chaplain Every prayer meant so much to all of us and we looked upon him as a righteous and God fearing person. We know he is walking with the Father down memory lane and meeting those that he has helped through the years.
Gordon MacKay
Master of Eliot-Hyde Park Lodge
Dear Mr. MacLellan:
I know you would ask me at this point to call you by your first name but, some people deserve that respect. As you do!
As a former Scoutmaster, member of the professional staff at the Boston Council, Camp Director at Wild Goose Scout Camp and friend, I will always value your example and guidance throughout the years which spoke volumes to everyone you touched. Always a kind word, always a voice of reason and always a greeting with a smile and a handshake ( left hand only like all good scouts ) these memories will live on. Thank you for being such an influence on all of us who had the pleasure of being your friend.
This summer, the Storer Scout Reservation Camp Staff Alumni will gather at The Storer Scout Reservation to remember the memories of years past. As a closing tribute to our gathering, we take time to remember all comp staff and leaders who have gone to be with the great Scoutmaster of us all at a memorial service at camp. You will be remembered at this time and thoughts and words of your impact on all of us will be mentioned as a tribute to your influence on us all.
Thank you for helping to make our lives richer.
Tony Morganelli
From the many comments about Donald, I’m sure if I had met him I would have liked him. The loss is mine. When I was 12 and joined Scouting he would have been my Scoutmaster. I like to think he is with the Great Scoutmaster of all good Scouts asking how he can help.
“Vee” Sookikian, Boston Minuteman Council, Waltham
Don was truly a great Scout and Brother Mason. I count him as one of my best friends.
Dave Lovering
Dear Mrs. MacLellan and Family,
I am saddened to hear about the passing of Mr. Mac. Mr. Mac is what I called him during my days in scouting with Troop 1 Islington. Having achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, Mr. Mac expected nothing but the very best out of me. He always challenged me to do things that I didn’t think I could possibly do. I was very fortunate to have had him as a scoutmaster. Looking back, I recall that summer camp at Wild Goose was 2 weeks long and I had gone to camp for 6 years. Mr. Mac was always there spending 2 weeks of his vacation time with the scouts, mosquitoes, and tenderfoot /second class gourmet cooking. In my mind he will always be the ultimate scoutmaster, totally committed to his scouts. Because of him, I got my 2 sons involved with Boy Scouts (they are currently both Life Scouts). I will always have fond memories of him.
i have only talked to you on the phone acouple of times and it felt like i have known you for a long time. i wish we could have meet. i can see that you are a very loved man and a wonderful man who has touched so many lives. we will meet someday.
Dear Mrs. MacLellan and Family,
We are so sorry to hear that Don has gone home to the Lord. He was a friend and mentor in Scouting like none other, and he modeled for all of us what it meant to be a man of dedication, commitment and faith. He taught all of us in Scouting the deeper meaning of the values we pledged, and we are all so grateful for the sacrifices you made to ‘share’ him with so many of us. Be assured of our prayers for all of your family. God bless.
Dear June and Family
I was sad to learn of your husband and father’s death. Though I have only known you for such a short time I feel I have been given a gift of friendship in coming to know you both. I have admired the devotion and love that June and Donald had for each other. Each time June would enter the room Donald’s face would light up with joy upon seeing her. If it is true you have a soul mate in this world I believe that June and Donald were true examples of it. You are in my thoughts and prayers and I hope that loving memories of Donald will help ease your loss. WIth love Tina
Dear Mrs. MacLellan and Family,
Mr. MacLellan will always have a special place in my heart. As a young scout first introduced to him, I thought I was looking at Lord Baden-Powell himself. Since that day Mr. MacLellan has always been a role model and influence on me on how a scout should think, behave and act. I remember on the night I completed the training course of Woodbadge, Mr. MacLellan was at the banquet. I asked if he remembered me as it had been years since we’d seen each other. He said “Of course Jim.” We chatted for a minute and I told him before parting “To me you’ll always be my Baden-Powell”
Now more than ever I will keep him in my hearts and memories. Rest now “My Baden-Powell”
Jim Solomon
Eagle Scout ’89
Scoutmaster
Troop 1 West Roxbury.
Dear June and Family,
We will miss Uncle Don greatly. His gallant sence of humor combined with a witty personality is hard to find. The memories of Uncle Don will live in our hearts always. Please find peace in knowing that he is in God’s gracious and loving hands. Our hearts and prayers go out to you.
Love,
Wayne and Sylvia