Doc McDonald

Francis “Doc” McDonald was born into an already large Irish family; he had an older brother and was surrounded by 5 sisters. At a very early age it was obvious that Doc was smart and funny and mischievous and always active. He was cute and precocious, with freckles on only one side of his face, and he was also very independent; a character trait that he would carry throughout his life. He always wanted to be outside. He was loveable and sensitive, and we are told he held a very special place in his mother’s heart.

Doc worked hard and played hard, challenging older neighborhood kids every chance he could to let him play on a backyard court with them. Doc LOVED his High School years at O’Hara; he played football and basketball, but basketball was his real passion. He continued playing Basketball in college for a few years, and as he grew older, added an array of additional sports and outdoor activities to keep him busy and content. After college and in the workforce for a few years, he decided to try the West Coast for a change of scenery and culture.

He started his new life in Southern California but soon headed to San Francisco where he found his 40-year forever home. Living in Northern CA afforded Doc the opportunity to spend his summer days sailing, playing tennis and loving his new city, and his winter weekends traveling to Tahoe, making friends and skiing to his heart’s content. And he always continued playing basketball in pick-up games throughout the city for most of his adult life. He made friends in SF easily and had several careers eventually leading to starting his own consulting firm.

Doc spent the best years of his life living in SF together with his love and longtime partner, Sari. They took advantage of all that SF offered. They loved to travel together and discover new places, often getting lost and finding gems along the way that they would return to in later years. Doc was recently asked, “what would your “best day” look like?” He replied, “A morning of sailing and an afternoon of skiing”.

It’s hard to describe Doc in just a few words because he was a complex man. He was fiercely independent, charismatic and very sociable. He was sometimes controversial, and not always Politically Correct. He tried to be helpful, and he wasn’t perfect by a long shot, but his heart was usually in the right place. He lived his life on his terms and loved his family and friends in his own way. When we talked recently about his life he said thoughtfully, “I had a good life.” And when we look at pictures of Doc from throughout his life, we smile remembering our brother for his smile and his easy contagious laugh, and for his ability to make us laugh out loud.

Doc, you are loved, and you will be missed. You DID have a good life. Rest in Peace.

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