Donald W. Maclean

HAMILTON - Donald W. Maclean, compassionate father, father-in-law, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend quietly slipped away, surrounded by family at home on Christmas evening.

Don was born and raised in New York City, the only child of James A. and Nina A. Maclean. He graduated from Yale University in June 1943, having spent his senior year of undergraduate school at Cornell Medical School in NYC. Don knew from a young age that he wanted to be a doctor. Don's father met Priscilla Dean while she was traveling by train from Montana to New York City to work as a nurse at Bellevue Hospital. She and Don met somewhat later in 1943. They were married in the famous "Little Church Around the Corner" on December 16, 1944.  His medical schooling was accelerated due to the need for doctors during WWII and he graduated with an MD after three years in June 1945, then interned at Bellevue Hospital until June 1946. He then was on active duty in the US Army Medical Corps serving as a Transport Surgeon on Army transports to Japan and the Aleutians until his discharge in June 1948.

Their first of six children, Don Jr. was born in Chicago in 1946.Their second oldest, James in Seattle, WA; Margaret in Denver, CO; Nina in Ft. Logan, CO and Gordon in Sioux Falls, SD. The growing family moved according to Don's military obligations and medical career. George, the youngest was born in Hamilton after a fortuitous move to the Bitterroot valley in the fall of 1955 when Don and Pris learned of an opening for a family doctor in Hamilton from Priscilla's parents, who had retired in Corvallis.

He joined the medical practice of Dr. Richard Peterson, at 202 S.3rd St. in Hamilton. Thus began his long association with the community, treating the ill and injured with great respect, appreciation and interest in his patients' life experiences. The practice grew to include Dr. Charles Petty and in the late 60's the trio started the Bitterroot Clinic on west Main. Don could recall a time that doctor's office visits were three dollars and house calls were five.

Besides being a family doctor who made house calls (one of the three telephone operators all named Mable always knew where he was) and general surgeon, he spent his time on Ski Patrol at Lost Trail, 50 mile Boy Scout hikes, volunteering at the Bitterroot Public Library for 25 years, working with Ernie Peterson photos at the Ravalli Museum, and helping organize Sapphire Community Health. He also served on the board of Ravalli Services for many years and volunteered at Marcus Daly Hospice.

Don Jr., a Peace Corps volunteer in Malaysia, convinced Don and Priscilla to sponsor Raj Rakhra in 1971 so that he could leave Malaysia to finish high school and attend college in the U.S. Raj remains close to the family, and enriched and broadened the lives of the family.

Don shared his love of the Bitterroot Mountains on several horse pack trips and backpacking most of the canyons with his wife, family and friends, leaving a trove of beautiful photos and memories. At his retirement party in 1986, he lamented the lack of time his work allowed for these summer trips. He also played tennis, golf, canoed, square danced, sailed, hunted, crafted fine furniture and enjoyed learning more calculus! Parties that he and Priscilla hosted for their friends were long remembered affairs. After underwriting 6+ college educations for their children, Don and Priscilla loved traveling to Europe, Malaysia, Indonesia, Fiji, Hawaii, as well as skiing, camping, bicycling and backpacking in the U.S. Don and Priscilla were a wonderful couple, as parents and grandparents, as friends to many in the Bitterroot, and as contributors to the community.

He and Priscilla were married almost 64 years until her death in November 2008. He is survived by his six children: Don of the family home; Jim (Susie) Grand Junction, CO; Marg Johnson (Larry) Hamilton, MT; Nina (Jon Turk) West Fork, MT; Gordon (Naomi Seko) Boulder, CO; George (Dee Hensley-Maclean) Hamilton, MT; seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

The family owes a deep debt of gratitude to Karen Hamilton, Joyce DeFrehn, Loretta Moore and Toni Campbell for their wonderful, engaging, kind and compassionate care of Don during the last few years.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. The family suggests memorials may be made to Sapphire Community Health, Bitterroot Public Library or Marcus Daly Hospice, or a charity of the donor's choice. Condolences and memories may be left at www.dalyleachchapel.com.