McDONALD, John J., M.D. Retired Chief of Radiology, Norwood Hospital Of Norwood, formerly of Needham, December 23rd. Born May 5th, 1920 in Malden, the eldest of six children to the late John and Mary Ellen Suzan McDonald. He graduated from Malden Catholic High School and was Valedictorian of his class. He then attended College of the Holy Cross where he studied pre-med. He was the soloist on the Holy Cross Glee Club and his senior year represented the college singing on the popular Fred Allen National Radio Show.
After graduating with honors from Holy Cross in 1942, he attended Tufts Medical School. After medical school, he joined the Navy and worked at the VA Hospital in Maine. While in Maine, he met the love of his life and future wife, Jane Fitzgerald. They would have nine children. He moved to Hartford, CT to complete his medical residency and then decided to pursue radiology at St. Elizabeth's Hospital. He then went to Norwood Hospital where he had a long storied career as the Chief of Radiology from 1955 to 1990. Upon his retirement from Norwood Hospital, the Board of Trustees renamed the department after him. He lived most of his life in Needham and spent summers in Old Rexhame Beach in Marshfield. He was a deeply religious man and loved spending time at home with his family. He loved baseball, loved to read and in his later years, he studied subjects that were of interest to him. Beloved husband of the late Jane M. (Fitzgerald) McDonald. Devoted father of Katherine Peregrim and her late husband Larry, Nancy Glenn and her husband Terrence, Elizabeth Dodson and her husband James, John J. McDonald, Jr. and his wife Lisa Mooney, Mary Carol Abel and her husband Charles, David, Brian and Tracey McDonald and the late Jane Marie McDonald. Also survived by seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Brother of Kenneth McDonald.
Funeral from the George F. Doherty and Sons Funeral Home, 1305 Highland Avenue, NEEDHAM, Saturday at 9 a.m. Funeral Mass in St. Bartholomew Church, Needham, at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Visiting hours Friday 4 to 8. Interment Holyhood Cemetery, Brookline. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in John's memory to the American Heart Association.