By Sallie James
BOCA RATON — Jon Randal “Randy” McDonald loved to go barefoot, throw parties, chat up his neighbors and spend time with his beloved sheepdogs. He was also a talented investment professional, recently named one of the top brokers in Florida.
When he died on April 17 after a brief illness, leaving behind his wife, Lori, those who knew him said the community lost someone who was “everybody’s best friend.” He was 63.
Mr. McDonald was born in Racine, Wisconsin, and spent most of his childhood in St. Croix. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin in Madison with a degree in finance and most recently worked for Morgan Stanley. He rose through the ranks to become a senior vice president, a wealth adviser and a corporate client group director during his tenure there.
He was also a member of the Riviera Civic Association and a keen supporter of the neighborhoods on the barrier islands, said fellow Riviera board member Katie Barr, who had known Mr. McDonald for years.
“Randy was always right there, always ready to serve or to have a party. Whatever it took, Randy was the guy,” Barr said. “He is really leaving a big void. He was 63 but he was like 23 in spirit. He had a very youthful persona.”
The McDonalds often walked their huge sheepdogs around the neighborhood and chatted with people along the way, friends recalled.
“Besides the fact that he was fun and had a generous heart and spirit, he was extremely smart so he was a huge asset,” Barr said.
He was “always the voice of reason” when it came to making decisions for the neighborhood, Barr added.
Kevin Meaney, president of the Riviera Civic Association, said the community lost a good guy with a great sense of humor, who knew how to focus when it came to neighborhood issues.
“If we needed to rally over some things that were going on in the neighborhood he would get involved,” Meaney recalled.
George O’Rourke, Mr. McDonald’s neighbor and a former co-worker, remembered him as someone who truly loved life.
“He was very much a community activist. He was multidimensional: professional in his work as a community activist and a true friend to many in the city,” O’Rourke said.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Mark. He is survived by his wife, his three sheepdogs and three sisters.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be sent to Abandoned Pet Rescue, at www.facebook.com/fund/AbandonedPetRescue, or Animal Aid Inc., at www.animal-aid.com.
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