Jerry R. McDonald – Captain, United States Navy

From a contemporary press report

NORFOLK, VIRGINIA — Retired U.S. Navy Captain Jerry R. McDonald, 59, of the 1200 block of Botetourt Gardens, passed away Saturday evening, February 3, 2001 in his residence.

Jerry was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, and graduated from Linden-McKinley High School. He graduated from Ohio State University with a bachelor of science degree in anthropology and a masters degree in public administration.

Jerry enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1963 and served as a fire control technician aboard the aircraft carriers Randolph, Lexington and the Intrepid. He was commissioned as an officer in the Navy in 1968. He served in the Cuban Missile Blockade, Vietnam in 1969, Mariel Cuban Boat Operations of 1980,  Lebanon, Beirut during the 1983 bombing of the Marine barracks and in Bahrain during the tanker wars of 1988.

Captain McDonald served a total of 29 years in the Navy, 19 of them forward deployed. He had four major commands, Commanding Officer of USS Shakori (ATF-162), USS Portland (LSD-37) and USS LaSalle (AGF-3), and Commander of Amphibious Squadron Six.

Following retirement from the Navy in 1991, Jerry with his partner Matthew H. Lipkin, built Marpol, a wastewater management company, Bay Gulf Trading and Seaforce Marine.

He is survived by his parents, Jeanne and Joe McDonald of Columbus, Ohio; his beloved wife of 33 years, Julie Ogle McDonald of Norfolk; a sister, Judith McDonald of Columbus; his beloved daughter, Ellen McDonald and son-in-law Joseph Bondi; and his dear grandchildren, Emily Grace Bondi and Claire Emma Bondi, all of Norfolk. He was preceded in death by his beloved grandmother, Margaret McDonald; his aunt, Katherine McDonald; and his mother-in-law, Mary Ogle.

A funeral will be conducted with full military honors in the chapel at Arlington National Cemetery at a future date to be scheduled. The family will receive friends at Cox Funeral Home from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Virginia Chapter of the Leukemia Society of America, Box 21, 2101 Executive Drive, Hampton, VA 23666, or to the donor's favorite charity.

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