Anita MacDonald Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Anita MacDonald, 89, of West Hartford, passed away in the morning of June 1st. She was a devoted wife, mother, sister, grandmother and aunt, known for her dignity, integrity and grace. She had an exceptionally rich, adventurous and blessed life. She was born in Great Barrington, Massachusetts to Muriel and Irwin Barry. Her young life was filled with many adventures which she shared with her beloved sister and best friend, Beverly. Spending most of her life in Bloomfield, Connecticut, Anita attended the University of Hartford, being a member of that institution’s first classes and then worked at the Trust Department for the Hartford National Bank. She met Alvin R. MacDonald, who had moved to Bloomfield after World War Two and established a veterinary practice. They were married in 1955 and soon had their only child, Scott. Helping her husband by sharing answering services in the evening at MacDonald’s Veterinary Clinic, she bred poodles, was active in the local garden club (serving as president), pursued tennis and bridge and partook in various activities at the Hartford Golf Club. Anita’s other passion was cooking, which took her to culinary classes in New York City and London with Le Cordon Bleu and in Paris with La Varenne. When she completed her instruction, Anita, along with her close friend Mary Cagenello, set up The Happy Cookers in Bloomfield, teaching through much of the 1980s and into the early 1990. She eventually published a cook book with many of her favorite recipes. One her pride and joys was the house that she and Alvin built on Pent Road in Bloomfield. She was a devoted follower of the UCONN women’s basketball team, a shrewd investor and avid world traveler, having touched ground in places such as Cuba, Brazil, Indonesia and Japan. She is survived by her son, Dr. Scott B. MacDonald, his wife Kateri Scott-MacDonald; and their children, Alistair and Estelle. She is also survived her cousin Diana and her husband Doug Barnard and nephews and nieces Sally Hills and her husband Calvin, and their children Calvin Hills III and wife Dine, Heather Jacobs and husband Brian; Richard Walton and partner Patsy Eickelberg, children Charlie Walton, wife Lily, and Kendall Walton and husband Finn; Pamela Fuller and her children Tamara and partner Noah, Aaron, Hannah Blaney and husband Jeffrey; Steven Walton and wife Terri, their children Hillary and Gabrielle; William Walton and wife Teresa, their children Christina and John; Vicki Meany and husband Brian, their children James, Colin and Claire. She will be sorely missed by all those who loved her. There will be a private family burial. In lieu of flowers, donations can be offered to: the Anita B. MacDonald ’47 Endowed Scholarship Fund at the University of Hartford. Please send donations to: University of Hartford, Institutional Advancement, 200 Bloomfield Ave, West Hartford, CT 06117. The checks should be written to The University of Hartford and mention on check it is for the Anita B. MacDonald Endowment.

Anita MacDonald

June 1, 2017