Memorable Manitobans: Donald Ross “Don” MacKay (1917-1990)

Donald Ross MacKay Click to enlarge

College administrator.

Born in 1917, he graduated from Brandon College in 1939. He returned to the college in 1947 as Registrar and Bursar. He later served as Comptroller, Public Relations Officer, Secretary to the Board of Governors, and Director of Development. Following his retirement, he served on the Board of Directors for the Brandon University Foundation. He was presented with an Alumni Award (1974) and a Distinguished Service Award (1981). He was married twice, first in 1946 to Gwendolyn Elizabeth “Gwen” Dobbie (1919-1978) with whom he had three daughters and a son. The family lived at 137 21st Street, Brandon. His second wife was widow Mona Lillian Smee Sumida (1923-2015). He died at Sun Lakes, Arizona on 2 April 1990.

Sources:

Birth registration [Gwendoline Elizabeth Dobbie], Manitoba Vital Statistics.

“Don MacKay given BU alumni award,” Brandon Sun, 1 February 1974, page 2.

Obituary [Gwendolyn Elizabeth MacKay], Winnipeg Free Press, 30 January 1978, page 46.

“BU says goodbye to ‘family’,” Brandon Sun, 4 May 1981, page 6.

“Former registrar of BU dies,” Brandon Sun, 3 April 1990, page 11.

Obituary, Brandon Sun, 4 April 1990, page 30.

Obituary [Mona Lillian MacKay], Brandon Sun, 30 December 2015, page 16.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 10 September 2026

Memorable Manitobans This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations. Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text: Custom Search Browse surnames beginning with: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z Browse deaths occurring in: 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 Send corrections and additions to this page to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.ca Criteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements Help us keep history alive!