F. James McDonald, 87, died Sunday, June 13, 2010 at the VNA Hospice House, Vero Beach. Mr. McDonald was born Aug. 3, 1922, in Saginaw, Mich., to Mary C. and Dr. Francis J. McDonald. He graduated from St. Andrew’s school and joined the Saginaw Malleable Iron Division of General Motors. He became President and Chief Operating Officer and Chairman of the Executive Committee of General Motors in February 1981 and retired from GM in August 1987 after 47 years of credited service.
He was a World War II veteran, serving as an Assistant Engineering Officer on the Bergall and Caiman submarines in the South Pacific.
In retirement he served on the board of directors of H. J. Heinz, Georgia Pacific, Halliburton, and Kmart. He was Chairman of the Beaumont Foundation, (William Beaumont Hospital), for four years, then Chairman of the William Beaumont Hospital Board for four years. He was also an active member of the board of Up With People, and educational program for worldwide youth with five casts of 100 youngsters each performing throughout the world.
He met with Pope John II when a cast of Up With People performed at the Vatican. The Pope called them “a thousand doves of peace.”
He always believed in being a generous giver of time and money in the communities in which he lived. He loved family, golf, fishing, flying, and meeting people at all levels.
In 1970 he and his wife, Betty, purchased vacation property in Vero Beach and became permanent residents in 1991. He was a member of Riomar Country Club, Bent Pine Gold Club, Holy Cross Church of Vero Beach, Turtle Lake Club, Birchwood Country Club in Harbor Springs, Michigan, St. Hugo’s Church in Bloomfield Hills, and had been a 35-year member of the Bloomfield Hills Country Club.
Survivors include Betty, his loving wife of 66 years; daughter, Marybeth (Chuck) Cunningham, of Warren, Ohio; sons John (Jo) of Atlanta, Ga., and Tim, of Vero Beach; brothers Joseph F. and Thomas J. Saginaw, Mich.; and seven grandchildren, Melissa Heckathorn, Kelley Zakeri, Scott McDonald, Jason Pallas, Ryan Pallas, Christina Brummel, and Anna McDonald; and four great-grandchildren, Audrey, Natalie, Nathan and Madelyn. He was predeceased by his son Dennis J. and sister Mary Catherine Hill.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Boys and Girls Clubs of Indian River County, P.O. Box 643068, Vero Beach, FL 32964; or Indian River Medical Center Foundation, 1000 36th Street, Vero Beach, FL 32960; or Riverside Theatre, 3250 Riverside Park Drive, Vero Beach, FL 32963.
Visitation will be Wednesday, June 16, 4 to 7 p.m. at Strunk Funeral Home, Vero Beach. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10 a.m., Thursday, June 17, at Holy Cross Catholic Church, Vero Beach. A visitation will also take place at the A.J. Desmond and Sons Funeral Home on Sunday, June 20, 4 to 7 p.m. with a Mass at St. Hugo of the Hills Church, Bloomfield Hills, Mich., on Monday at 11 a.m. A guest book may be signed at www.strunkfuneralhome.com.
