Contributions to the tribute of Donald Hugh MacAdam

519-583-1530

twatersfh@gmail.com

Home
About Us
Pre-Planning
- Pre-Arrange Online
Resources
Obituaries

In Memory of

Donald Hugh MacAdam

1946 - 2024

Tribute Wall

Obituary
Tribute Wall
Service Information
Memories
Donations

Share / Subscribe to this tribute

Share Obituary:

Celebration of Life

A celebration of life will be held for Don and Diane on Sunday November 3,2024 from 1pm - 3pm at Brewers Blackbird 375 Wilson St E Ancaster, ON

Jacqui Detmar posted a condolence

Tuesday, July 23, 2024

There are so many awesome and funny memories I have about Mr. McAdam (or, Don). It took me a long time to stop calling Mr. and Mrs. McAdam by their first names. I think I was well into my forties when I stopped doing so, but I still fall into the habit to this day. Lol. My fondest memories of Don: A Restaurant Raconteur - Don and Diane took Lenore and me to the Main Street Cafe in Hamilton. Lenore and I were about 14 or 15 years old and I felt very grown-up going to a restaurant with them, without my parents. Mr. McAdam was acting silly and obliquely teasing me and I totally didn't pick up on it. A couple of days later Lenore said she and her Mom were so mortified by his behavior and Lenore felt she had to apologize. I was totally clueless about what was happening - I had no idea that I was being teased - and even if I had, I would have enjoyed myself immensely anyway! It still makes me laugh to think that Lenore and Diane were in agony and Don and I were having the best of time at that dinner! :) A SusPENsion - Lenore got suspended in grade 8 while on the school trip to Quebec. I was not allowed to go, so I wasn't there to bear witness but apparently Lenore made a complete ass of herself (like father, like daughter?). I think she got drunk or stayed out late and she ended up being suspended from school for a couple of days. If this had happened to me, I would have been in real trouble, even though I was basically a good kid. Mr. McAdam recognized that Lenore was also basically a good kid and, instead of punishing her, he gave Lenore a pen in recognition of her school suspension. I laughed my head off when I heard he gave her a pen. A pen!!! Get it?? LOL. Parents Just Don't Understand - I can't remember the exact circumstances but Lenore and I were in our late teens or early 20s and we were at some event. I had offered to drive Lenore to Port Dover and would stay overnight at her parents place - I would just drive back to Hamilton/Ancaster in the morning. It was totally a last-minute thing and Lenore's parents weren't expecting her (or a guest) to stay over. Lenore and I got to her parents' place well after midnight and settled ourselves to sleep on a pair of couches that were somewhat facing each other. The important thing to note is that I was sleeping on the couch that faced the stairs and Lenore was effectively behind a wall, invisible to anyone coming down the stairs. Additionally, I tend to sleep with the blankets covering a lot of my head - usually, just the top of my head is peeking out. At any rate, in the morning, I woke up to Mrs. McAdam walking around the downstairs (she wasn't wearing her glasses), in her negligee - sometimes briefly perching on the arm of the sofa I was sleeping on, near my head - talking on the phone. Next, down the stairs comes Mr. McAdam, and I scooch out a hand and give him a small wave. This whole time, Lenore and thought her parents knew that both of us were in the room, sleeping on the couches, until Mr. McAdam comes over to me, bends down to start giving me a kiss on the head and asks, "What did you do to your hair?" I didn't understand the question but Lenore clued in quickly and yelled out, "Dad! That's Jacqui!!" Both Lenore's parents screamed in surprise and were horrified to learn that: (A) Diane was prancing around the living room in her negligee, in full view of her daughter's friend; and (B) Don had almost kissed his daughter's friend on the head. I can only image what was going through Don's head when he heard the disembodied voice of the daughter he thought he was kissing, caterwauling from almost directly behind him. TO THIS DAY, I still laugh my head off about this. It was honestly one of the funniest moments of my life and I will never, ever forget it. Scientists Stick Together - This was early in the 2000s and I had learned from Lenore that her Dad was working on developing a new biotechnology and, having recently entered the space myself, I was very curious to learn more about what he did. When I learned that Don had started a scientific laboratory in an industrial space I decided to invite myself over and see what his lab was like. I probably wouldn't arrive in such an unexpected fashion today but I did things like that back then and felt a kinship with Mr. McAdam that I wanted to share. Even though I think I surprised the hell out of him, he very courteously toured me around his lab and I was *super* impressed at what he put together with a small amount of money, dated lab equipment, elbow grease, and sheer chutzpah. I really admired his resourcefulness, cleverness, invention, and adeptness as a scientist and I'm still trying to emulate - to this day - his amazing business acumen. Mr. McAdam and Don, I have always looked up to you and I will miss you. I will miss knowing that you're here on Earth with us. To my close, dear friend, Lenore, I hope you find some comfort and laughs in what I have written. May your grief soon turn to cherished memories, loving thoughts, and happy recollections of the life of your remarkable Dad.

Please wait

Share Comment

Cheryl Fullerton pledged to donate to Hamilton SPCA

Tuesday, July 23, 2024

Dear Lenore, your dad sounds like a special person. I am so very sorry for your loss. love Cheryl

Please wait

Diane Kovacs pledged to donate to Hamilton SPCA

Monday, July 22, 2024

Sincere condolences to the family on Don's passing.

Please wait

Tracy Phinney pledged to donate to Hamilton SPCA

Monday, July 22, 2024

Don will surely be missed by all that knew him - I am so sorry for your loss - Hugs

Please wait

Ann L'Ecuyer Musselman lit a candle

Monday, July 22, 2024

//s3.amazonaws.com/skins.funeraltechweb.com/tribute-gestures/v2/candles/material_candle_gold.jpg

Your Dad was a kind, loving man, always creating! One day, he and your beautiful Mom came into my shop carrying a stunning wooden table, that he had built just for me to create my floral designs on. It was perfect, the right height, width and length! Their united love was always inspiring and amazing! They will be missed, but knowing they are together again brings much peace and the memories warm smiles. Love to all, blessings, Ann

Please wait

Share Comment

Lenore MacAdam Posted Jul 22, 2024 at 9:20 AM

Thank you Ann. ❤️. You were always very special to my dad and your “sister” :)

Report

Robert Outlaw posted a condolence

Sunday, July 21, 2024

Don was a kind and caring individual. When we met in Ancaster in the early 80s, he was always interested in anything mechanical, a video game, in those days via a pinball machine. A brilliant individual, that was humble. So sorry to learn of his passing, as well as his wife Diane’s. His children, should be proud of his accomplishments. Don marched to his own drummer. R.I.P. B0B OUTLAW and FAMILY.

Please wait

Share Comment

Lenore MacAdam Posted Jul 21, 2024 at 8:58 PM

Thank you Robert. He certainly did. ❤️

Report

Peter Stuart posted a condolence

Sunday, July 21, 2024

Don was one of the kindest and most interesting men I've ever met. I enjoyed every single interaction I ever had with him (not something I could say for many people!)... Though I didn't have aa many as I would have liked.

Please wait

Share Comment

Lenore Posted Jul 21, 2024 at 4:42 PM

❤️❤️❤️

Report

The family of Donald Hugh MacAdam uploaded a photo

Sunday, July 21, 2024

/tribute-images/1968/Ultra/Donald-MacAdam.png