Sydney
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Donald Roderick ‘Rocket’ MacDonald, on Saturday, July 15, 2023, surrounded by his loving family.
Born on October 5, 1951, in Sydney, Donald was the son of the late John Angus, and Theresa Rita (MacNeil) MacDonald, from Creignish and Irish Vale, respectively.
Rocket was an avid sportsman who was excellent at playing hockey, baseball, golf, and pool, making sure everyone knew he never lost a dime playing any pool game. Donald got his nickname ‘Rocket’ due to his speed playing hockey in his younger years.
Rocket is survived by his loving wife, Pauline (Maxwell) MacDonald; son, Mark (Julie), Calgary; siblings, Gerry (Bonnie) MacIsaac, New Waterford, Anne (Kevin), Arlene Thompson, Pauline MacDonald, David ‘Stomper’ (Grace) MacDonald, Doug (Darlene) MacDonald, and John ‘Shultz’ MacDonald, all of Sydney; in-laws, Ingrid Shannon and family, Marilyn Ranson and family and Brenda (Eric) Flint; as well as many nieces and nephews.
Besides his parents, Rocket was predeceased by his sister, Betty (Roddy) MacIsaac.
Rocket was born in Sydney, Cape Breton and told everyone it was a beautiful island and the best place to live. He was employed by the Sydney Steel Plant, until an unfortunate workplace accident, but this didn’t stop his love with sports. This allowed him to watch every sport on TV, but only the ones that weren’t garbage. If you knew Rocket, you were well aware that he was a die-hard Montreal Canadiens and Expos fan.
You could often find Rocket at home drinking his tea and enjoying his smoke while yelling at the TV over sports or laughing hysterically at The Beverly Hillbillies. He was a professional at recalling a shot Tiger Woods made or a goal that the Canadians scored in any decade. Rocket always enjoyed teasing and having a good debate with family and friends about games, scores and stats or yelling over a good game of Tarbish, crib or Rummoli- or really any debate at all.
Special thanks to the Palliative Care Unit, VON and the Cape Breton Regional team in 3B for their care of Rocket in his time of need.
Visitation and memorial service to celebrate the life of Rocket MacDonald will be held at Pier Community Funeral Home, 1092 Victoria Rd. (entrance on Church St.), Whitney Pier on Friday, July 21, 2023. A gathering of family and friends will take place from 12 noon to 2 p.m. with the memorial service to follow at 2 p.m. in the All Faith Chapel with Fr. Paul Murphy officiating. Interment will take place in Forest Haven Memorial Gardens, Sydney at a later date.
Donations in memory of Rocket may be made to the Cape Breton Regional Hospital Cancer Care Fund, or to a charity of your choice.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the care and direction of Pier Community Funeral Home.
Online Condolences
To Rocket’s Families,
I have many fond memories of our days playing hockey and ball. Rocket was a great guy and I always enjoyed our chats whenever our paths would cross.
My condolences on your loss.
From: Chuck Drohan
Dear Pauline and Family my deepest condolences to you thinking of you at this sad time.
From: Lynn Allen
Sorry to hear of Rocket’s passing. Many great Northend memories. Condolences to all.
From: Greg Robertson
I am sad to hear of Rocket’s passing. Rocket was an iconic North Ender. He was a super friendly upbeat guy with a kind soul. When we were growing up, he was Stomper and John John’s big brother and he always made us feel good about ourselves. I am sure he will be eternally happy. He will be missed by us all.
From: Joey McKinnon
Pauline , Mark and all family & friends of Rocket I’m so sorry for your loss my deepest condolences to all of you . My thoughts and prayers to you all Hugs
Sincerest sympathy Pauline, Mark and all of the MacDonald family. May all the amazing memories of Rocket comfort you during this difficult time. We will not be able to be there to celebrate Rocket’s life with all of you, but we will be keeping you all in our thoughts and prayers and cherishing the memories of living on Campbell Street. Sending love and hugs.
Greg and Joanne, Truro, NS
Deepest condolences on your loss Pauline and Mark and your families. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.
Larry and Sandra Hrynick
Pauline, Mark and all of Rocket’s Family, condolences to you all.
May Rocket Rest In Peace. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Pauline and family, so very sorry to hear of Rocket’s passing.. My thoughts and prayers are with you all during this very sad time.. Hugs❤️
Deepest sympathy Pauline go out to you and your family and our prayers also Esther and Family may he rest in peace
Sincere condolences to you Pauline & Family. Rocket was a great guy! He will be missed around our community. May he rest in peace. 🌹
To the Mac Donald family so very sorry to hear of Rocket’s passing. Thinking of you all durning this difficult time. RIP
Chum,Willie,Mary,Rosalie & Tom
Our deepest condolences to you Pauline and families. I will always remember the pool games and fun we had at Sid’s and the Shingle back in the day. Playing hockey for Fred Tommy’s and many of the shenanigans we managed to get into along the path of our younger lives. Despite not seeing Rocket in the past 20 years, the memories of our friendship will always be cherished.
Anne, Kevin and all of the Family I am so sorry for your loss
Sending our love and prayers to all of you. With deepest sympathy, John and Audrey (Martell).
Sending our deepest💔 sympathy Pauline & family.
A.F.F.A.
Doddy & Bobby
Send our condolences to Pauline and family.
Thinking of all of Rocket’s family at this sad time. Condolences to you all
Dear Anne, Kevin, Julia, Alexis ,Victoria and family my condolences on the loss of your Rocket . May he Rest in Peace.
I grew up with Rocket, worked with him at the Plant, shared a few beers and tarbish at the Shingle with him. He was a proud Northender and although a few years older than our crew he played hockey and baseball in Sacred heart school yard with us and treated us as equals. An all round good guy.
Condolences to all
Pauline,Pauline& Mark we are so sorry to hear of Rockets passing.We are sending you all of our love my your loved one rest in peace.
Gary & Jennie ❤️
Mark and family I am so sorry to hear this awful sad news please know you are all in my thoughts and prayers❤
To the MacDonald/Maxwell families, our sincerest condolences to you all. Fly high Rocket and rest in eternal peace bud.
To all of Rockets both Family’s , very sorry to hear of his passing ! Back in the late 50’s and early 60’s Rocket was the Sidney Crossby of Street Hockey ,back when the snow plows would not take all the snow off the street ,when we asked !! Rocket was from well respected Northend family . Rocket will be missed by all who knew him ! Rest in peace !
Pauline and family, we are so sorry for your loss. Sounds like a fantastic person and will be missed by many. R.I.P. Rocket
Our sincere condolences to all the family. Keeping you in our thoughts & prayers. Piper, Kathy and Terry Lynn MacDonald
My thoughts and most sincere sympathies are extended to all family members and friends. With a name like “Rocket” you had to be special. RIP
My sincere condolences to Pauline, Mark & MacDonald Family. May the beautiful memories you all hold in your hearts help you get through the difficult weeks ahead. Hugs & prayers ❤️🙏🏻
Sorry for your loss Pauline, Mark and his brothers and sisters. He is probably playing tarbish with Aunt Rita now. He will be missed by all.
So sorry for your loss to the family
My condolences to all of Rocket’s family and friends 🤟I was also born and raised in the “ Hood” and Rocket of course was well known to all – Fly high and Rest in peace Mr. MacDonald ❤️💔
Condolences to the MacDonald and Maxwell families. What more can you say about Rocket. He is definately one of the best. Great guy and athlete . Rest in peace Rocket.
Please accept my deepest condolences to all the families. I have very warm memories of “Rocket.” Donnie was a warm, fun person that could engage you in whatever sport he was watching or playing. May he bask in eternal light and may the wonderful memories bring some peace. God Bless
Dear family:
Sincere condolences on the passing of Rocket.
Our thoughts and prayers to his entire family. Cherish great memories.
Dave and Mary French and family
To the MacDonald Family, i would like to express mine and fellow MacLellan family members sympathy for the lose of Rocket which will surely leave a void in your lifes. Upon learning your MacDonalds have come out of Cregnish – I would think our families are probably related as that is where our MacLellans originally settled too…
Sorry to hear of his passing , there was no better partner for a game of snooker at the Shingle ! I will always remember him for coaching our little league team and his patience trying to get me to throw strikes.
My deepest condolences to the family, friends and acquaintances of a most wonderful man and former neighbour, taken from this earth far too soon! To his wife Pauline and his son Mark and his brothers and sisters, our thoughts and prayers go out to each and every one of you at this most difficult of times. Jeanette (Mombourquette) and Dave MacLeod.
Pauline , Mark and all the family, so sorry for your loss
Rocket was a good friend, lots of great memories, good times
We reach out with great sorrow and are so very saddened to hear of your loss. Lynn and I and our family send our thoughts and prayers to all of Rockets family and the many friends he gathered over the years. He will always be fondly remembered by us who knew him.
My condolences, may Rocket “Rest In Peace”
To John & family…sorry to hear about the death of your brother. Rest in peace…
Deepest condolences to family and friends. I called Rocket a friend and was proud to do so. He was one of those whose friendship was a sacred thing, and you always felt its strength. Gods speed my friend.
To The MacDonald Family: I played hockey with and against Rocket in the past. Great all around athelete and good guy. He could also play a mean game of pool! ! My condolences to the family. Rest in Peace Rocket.
To Pauline, Mark and the MacDonald family, so sorry to hear of the passing of Rocket. Stay strong. Love you all – Marlene.
I met Rocket through my brother, Jack , way back in my early twenties about fifty years ago ! I may have worked a shift or two with him at the Steel Plant during the mid seventies. He was very friendly towards me and never displayed a mean bone in his body. Which I thoroughly appreciated ! What a better world this would be today if there were more people out there like Rocket !
Strong condolences to his family !
My heartfelt condolences to Pauline, Mark and families
To the MacDonald family, very sorry to hear the news of Rocket’s passing. Please accept my sincere condolences. Rest in peace.
my sincere condolences to the family from tom nugent tom wants the family to know that his late wife louise farrel nugent thought the world of ROCKET she enjoyed all her laughs and visits over the years
Pauline, Mark & families So sorry for your loss .
Pauline, Mark and all the MacDonald family. So sorry for your loss. Lots of fond memories of Rocket from our early years in the Northend.
Germaine(MacNeil) Matheson
Another great has entered the gates of heaven. ROCKET was one of the great ones from the NORTH end of SYDNEY. Before I knew the man I knew of him through the world of local pool players and when I did meet the man he lived up to his reputation, ROCKET had style and was a true gentleman in the game. So sorry to hear of his passing but we can all be grateful to have known him and to call him a friend and he will be remembered forever by all.