Blaine Macdonald

After bravely facing cancer for nearly two and a half years, our beloved Blaine left this world peacefully on December 6 at the Salvation Army Hospice in Richmond. He spent his last days surrounded by love from his family, his caregivers, and his precious cat, Kristie. 

Blaine was born in San Rafael, California in 1964; the third child of Vancouver natives James and Susanne Macdonald. His arrival on April Fool’s Day was an indicator of his wonderful sense of humor. After several years in the U.S., the family moved back to Vancouver permanently in 1971, where Blaine grew up in Kerrisdale.

Life wasn’t always easy for Blaine, who in his young adult years struggled to find his place in the world. With the help of his family, his teacher Sally Lobsinger at Lord Byng Secondary School, and many wonderful people at the Vancouver Neurological Center, Blaine became not only a success, but an inspiration. Living at the Developmental Disabilities Association’s Minoru residence in Richmond since 1989, Blaine worked as a courier, enjoyed outings with his flatmates and staff, and was loved by everyone who knew him for his positive attitude, his kindness, his wit, and his loving acceptance of all. As one of his caregivers said last week, “his heart always seemed to make space for everyone in it.” 

Blaine loved all animals (but especially Kristie, who brought such light to his last year), “Star Trek,” photography, White Spot cheeseburgers, giving Christmas gifts, golf, lunches out with Kory and the guys, home improvement shows, outings to the nature park, and his family. He will live forever in the hearts of his mother Susanne, his sisters Linda and Moira, his brothers-in-law Gary and Bruce, his nephew Daniel, his niece Anna, his special cousin Clare, and many relatives and friends. He was equally beloved by his family at Minoru, whom he loved back: Kory, Christine, Jason, Jubert, Ivan, Victor, Joseph, Anton, Bill and his friends Danny and Paul. Blaine is now reunited with his father, who died in 2021.

As Blaine would say, “Live long and prosper.” 

A funeral mass will be held at St. Augustine’s Church, 2028 West 7th Avenue Vancouver BC V6J 1T4, on December 19th at 11am. For donations, the family suggests the DDA.