James R. McDonald, 87, of New Paltz, New York, passed away unexpectedly, of natural causes, on Friday, July 3, 2020, at his home in Woodland Pond of New Paltz, New York.
Born December 3, 1932 in The Bronx, New York, he was the son of the late Andrew and Ethel (Eckberg) McDonald.
He was raised in the Inwood section of Manhattan, where he attended Good Shepard Elementary School, followed by Manhattan Prep High School, where he was Captain of the Track Team. He was accepted and attended Manhattan College. He then took a break to proudly serve his country in the U.S. Army Signal Corp. from 1952 to 1954.  He returned to complete his degree in Electrical Engineering in 1956. That was followed by a long industrious career working for RCA Global Communications.
He leaves his loving wife, Joan McDonald, of 52 years; his four adoring children, Diane Trieper and her husband, Buddy of Boca Raton, FL, Julie Kay Ellman of New Paltz, NY, Marco Ellman and his wife, Betsy of Larchmont, NY, and Gregory Ellman of Kingston, NY; and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.
He will be laid to rest at The Cemetery of the Gate of Heaven in Hawthorne, New York on Wednesday, July 8, 2020, at 10:30 a.m.
Copeland-Hammerl Funeral Home is honored to assist James’s family with the arrangements.
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