Edward Douglas McDonald

Edward (Ed) Douglas McDonald (also known by "Doug" in his youth) passed away peacefully in Walnut Creek, CA on Wednesday, May 29, 2019, at the age of 70, after a long battle with Lewy Body Dementia. Ed was a long-time resident of Danville and San Ramon, CA, and loving father to Alexandra (Allie) McDonald, Ashley McDonald, Eric McDonald, and golden retriever Augie; dear brother of Marsha McDonald Steele; uncle to Doug and Brad Steele; and great-uncle to Heather, Holly, Shannon, Bree, Miles, Roxanne, and Frank Steele. Born to Edward Dysart and Ruth Talhelm McDonald and grandson of Norman and Mabel McDonald, predeceased in Liberty, MO, Ed grew up in Liberty, MO and later Leawood, KS. Ed attended Pembroke-Country Day School in Kansas City, MO graduating in 1966. Recognized as a national scholar, Ed attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, in Troy, NY and later enlisted in the U.S. Navy serving on the U.S.S. Ranger from August 1969 - May 1975. His computer training in the Navy led to his expertise and innovation in computer graphics. Ed was the founder, owner and lead developer of MicroScene Inc., best known for its graphic development of award-winning Microsoft Flight Simulator, until his retirement in 2004. As a youth, Ed spent summers in Minnesota at his familys cabin canoeing on the lakes with his sister Marsha, and winters on ski trips with his family to Colorado. His love for the mountains, rock climbing and winter sports continued throughout his life. Some of his most memorable days were those as a ski lift operator in Aspen and the many years enjoying family and friends at his home in Lake Tahoe. Ed taught his children how to ski and passed on his love for the sport to them all. Ed was a skilled builder of model ships, highly inquisitive with respect to space and science, and a trainer and lover of many dogs. Ed also enjoyed volunteering within the community; a resident of Danville since 1983, he gave his time to the Mustang Soccer League as a coach to his childrens teams. Eds final resting place will be in the Sierra Nevada, where he loved to ski. Memorial services will be held on Saturday, June 15th at 11:00 am at Hap Magee Ranch Park in Danville, CA. Contributions in his memory may be made to the National Park Foundation and the Stanford Lewy Body Dementia Research Center. Memorial Service Saturday, June 15, 2019 11:00 am Hap Magee Ranch Park 1025 La Gonda Way, Danville CA 94526