It is impossible for me to distill my memories of Mike McDonald down to a single, even a few, defining events. Would it be the wonderful wedding celebration he and Tricia planned for us in 1988? Or the Family trip to Disney World in 1995? How about the family vacation to Ireland that he planned and hosted in 2000? Or would it be his tales of the Atlanta Ad scene with all the quirky, talented people he brought together to build the South’s first great ad agency?
What permeates all of these and my other memories are, to me, the essence of Mike McDonald… a contagious optimism, a belief that the best person to invest in is yourself, an insatiable creative drive, an undying love of advertising, an expansive personality and vision of life and a remarkable generosity.
Mike was a true Renaissance Man. He was a great judge of creative talent and the ads they made. Creative people, writers, designers and art directors understood his drive for excellence and his support for truly great ideas.
Outside of the Ad business Mike proved himself as a talented painter, photographer and writer. On the home front he designed and had constructed many of the features of his various properties.
Mike always thought “BIG.” I cannot remember a time when a party was just a party or a vacation was just a trip. He had a way of expanding things to make the ordinary extraordinary.
He maintained his love of life to the end. The night before he passed Tricia came across notes he had made planning trips for later in 2016 to his beloved Ireland and visits to his favorite haunts in the US.
He and Joan raised three remarkable daughters, Tricia, Erin and Maureen. And, he and Joan were active in the lives of their grandchildren, Caroline Meyer and Matt and Chris Pierce. All–in–all, a great legacy!
Light a Candle
Comments
A Son–in–Law’s Remembrances
It is impossible for me to distill my memories of Mike McDonald down to a single, even a few, defining events. Would it be the wonderful wedding celebration he and Tricia planned for us in 1988? Or the Family trip to Disney World in 1995? How about the family vacation to Ireland that he planned and hosted in 2000? Or would it be his tales of the Atlanta Ad scene with all the quirky, talented people he brought together to build the South’s first great ad agency?
What permeates all of these and my other memories are, to me, the essence of Mike McDonald… a contagious optimism, a belief that the best person to invest in is yourself, an insatiable creative drive, an undying love of advertising, an expansive personality and vision of life and a remarkable generosity.
Mike was a true Renaissance Man. He was a great judge of creative talent and the ads they made. Creative people, writers, designers and art directors understood his drive for excellence and his support for truly great ideas.
Outside of the Ad business Mike proved himself as a talented painter, photographer and writer. On the home front he designed and had constructed many of the features of his various properties.
Mike always thought “BIG.” I cannot remember a time when a party was just a party or a vacation was just a trip. He had a way of expanding things to make the ordinary extraordinary.
He maintained his love of life to the end. The night before he passed Tricia came across notes he had made planning trips for later in 2016 to his beloved Ireland and visits to his favorite haunts in the US.
He and Joan raised three remarkable daughters, Tricia, Erin and Maureen. And, he and Joan were active in the lives of their grandchildren, Caroline Meyer and Matt and Chris Pierce. All–in–all, a great legacy!
You are missed. Thank you for all you have done.
Love,
Michael