Donald “Don” John MacPhail, III, a South Shore stockbroker who fought in Vietnam, died March 19 of complications stemming from exposure to Agent Orange during the conflict. He was 78.
Born April 9, 1947, the oldest of three children, to a family with Scottish roots. After graduating from Jamaica Plain High School, where he met his wife of 58 years – Marguerite – he completed two tours in Vietnam. He rose to the become a sergeant in the U.S. Army, and upon returning home dealt with complications of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and exposure to Agent Orange the rest of his life. He was diagnosed with dyslexia at age 40.
He was a prison volunteer, teaching those incarcerated financial literacy and often shared his story with high school students and veterans’ groups whenever asked. He also was a volunteer with Meals on Wheels and local animal shelters.
A self-made salesperson with no formal business training, he became a co-founder of the commodities market in Boston in the 1970s, later worked as a stockbroker, and ultimately opened his own brokerage firm on the South Shore, where he worked until retirement.
His family and friends remember his wide, unmistakable grin, his laughter, and his love of music — Andrea Bocelli, Neil Diamond, and Elton John — and his own beautiful singing voice. He traveled to all seven continents, earned his pilot’s license, even walked on hot coals – more than once.
He was also an avid golfer – from the ancient links of Scotland to Pebble Beach to enjoying the Ryder Cup in Valderrama, Spain. He played in charity rounds alongside professional golfers Greg Norman and John Daly; and most proudly, at White Cliffs Country Club in Plymouth, where he was once named Golfer of the Year.
He is survived by his wife, Marguerite MacPhail, of Plymouth; his son, Donald John MacPhail, IV (“D.J.”), of Plymouth; his daughter, Dr. Stacy Boss, and son-in-law, Jeffrey Boss, of Upton; his grandson, Maxwell Ainslie MacPhail, of Plymouth; his step-granddaughter, Lindsey Boss and her partner, Tyler Ruscansky, of Plymouth; his step-grandson, Cory Boss, and his step-great-grandchildren, Lyla and Tony Boss, of Mashpee; and his sister, Mary Jane Dunn, of New Hampshire. He is preceded in death by his brother, Alexander MacPhail.
A wake will be from 4-7p.m Sunday, March 29 at Cartmell-Davis Funeral Home, 619 State Road in Plymouth. Services will be at noon, March 30 at the funeral home with burial at 1:45 p.m. at Massachusetts National Cemetery, Connery Avenue, Bourne.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in his name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital stjude.org, MSPCA-Angell support.mspca.org or Veterans, Inc.veteransinc.org.