The tributes continue to pour in for legendary teacher, Mr. Edward B. MacDonald , who died on May 9 th 2006 at Nuttall Hospital in Kingston . He taught Mathematics, English and Geography at Kingston College from 1943-1976 and he continued in an administrative capacity at KC until 1990.
His sons Maurice and Douglas both went to KC. Douglas is a past president of the KCOBA Toronto chapter. His daughters Hope , Ruth and Nicola attended St. Hugh 's.
The funeral service for Mr. MacDonald was held at the Kingston Parish Church on Saturday, May 20 th . He will be interred in the family plot in Broughton, Westmoreland , Jamaica .
“Mr. Mac” as he was affectionately called by his many students over the years, was quiet but unforgettable for the manner in which he was able to impress onto the mind of his students the fundamentals of mathematics and other subjects.
If you know the acronym “BODMAS” then you were probably taught by it by “Mr. Mac” in his first form mathematics class. He would make a small mark over the classroom door’s head jam with his chalk and exclaim, “Whenever you see this mark, I want you to remember “BODMAS.” For those who missed it, “BODMAS” refers to the correct order for doing mathematical operations: Brackets, Order, Division, Multiplication, Addition and Subtraction. According to BODMAS rule, brackets are always calculated first, followed by anything raised to a power, then any division followed by multiplication before doing any addition or subtraction. Failure to follow this order can result in an incorrect answer.
According to Derrick Wright, former president of the Atlanta Jamaica Association, Mr. McDonald made quite an impression on him when, in 1963, he taught him mathematics in first form. “He stood out in my memory more so than any other member of the teaching staff at KC. He could draw triangles and lines and bisect an angle in a flash with laser-like precision…he was an expert in his field and a true professional, at that. Even now, I often reflect on the positive way in which he impacted my KC learning experience.”
Danny Young of the New York Chapter spoke for many when he commented, “Mr. MacDonald taught me Mathematics when I first started at the college in 1962. I will never forget when he used the chalk to place a dot above the door jam to explain how to remember the key phrase "BODMAS".” Another KC Old Boy, Michael Broomfield, recalls the green 1st form mathematics book and how “Mr. Mac” in his quiet demeanor was instrumental in sparking his interest in Mathematics.
The Right Reverend E. Don Taylor, The Vicar Bishop of New York City, wrote, “I am very saddened at the news of the death of Mr. Edward MacDonald. He taught me English and Mathematics at the College and I remember him with much affection and deep respect. I extend my sympathy to the members of his family, and I pray for the repose of his soul.”
The Kingston College family mourns the loss of one our true heroes: one who labored in the trenches; one who without fanfare, day after day for many years exposed young minds to the concepts that have helped them to become who they are today. We extend our deepest sympathy to the MacDonald family at this time of great loss.
