Arturo McDonald

On April 7, 2021, Arturo McDonald of Panama City Florida, began his journey to meet our Heavenly Father. Arturo breathed his last breath while in his “Seagrass home,” surrounded by his wife, five children, ten beloved grandchildren, and great-granddaughter, born on and will forever share Arturo’s 73rd birthday. His sister in-law, niece, grandnephew, and grandniece were also by his side.
Born on September 30, 1947, in La Habana, Cuba, he immigrated to the United States as a teenager with his family, seeking freedom. While his family resided in Miami, FL, he completed high school in 1965 at Belén Jesuit Preparatory School. He went on to pursue his Bachelor of Science in the Engineering Science Program, graduating in 1969 from Louisiana State University. In 1972, with grants awarded by President Nixon’s newly created Environmental Protection Agency he entered the graduate Environmental Engineering Sciences program at the University of Florida.
In 1971, Arturo actively participated in the Movimiento Democrata de Cubanos en el Exilio seeking the liberation of Cuba where he met Carmen Caballero, who’s family also recently arrived from Cuba. The two traveled together to demonstrate in Washington, D.C. at the White House, in New York City at the United Nations, culminating in a hunger strike on Central Park in front of the Cuban Embassy. The two fell passionately in love and married after a brief engagement on September 9, 1972 in Miami, FL. The year 2021 marked the couple’s celebration of a half century of friendship and life together.
Professionally, Arturo’s lifetime of civil service began with initiating the Environmental Protection Commission for Hillsborough County in 1973. They welcomed their first child in Tampa, FL. before relocating to Panama City, FL. in 1976 where the couple had four more children and established Bay County as their permanent McDonald-Caballero home. He commenced the Environmental Programs at both Tyndall Air Force Base and the Naval Coastal Systems Center, retiring from federal service after 38 years in September 2011.
In service to his community, Arturo was a 20-year scout leader for both the Boy and Girls Scouting organizations, served as the Vice President of the Panama City Swim Team, coached the Science and Discovery Center of Northwest Florida FIRST LEGO League Junior, created and maintained the owner’s communication group page for the Boardwalk Beach Resort Condominium, and among others, was an active member of the Friends of St. Andrews State Park, Inc.
Arturo enjoyed Cuban food, music, theater, gardening, baseball, cruising, camping, canoeing, hiking on the Appalachian Trail, building models, especially trains as part of his heritage, computing, and many other hobbies. Most important of all was grandparenting! Teaching and playing table-top games with his grandchildren was one of his true joys while in retirement.
Arturo is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Carmen Caballero McDonald, children, Arturo Alfredo McDonald “Artie”, Carmen Elena McDonald “Ita”, Tomas Guillermo McDonald “Tommie”, Antonina Rita Perkins “Tonia” (Ray), Juan Pablo McDonald “J.P.”, grandchildren, Austin Allen Stewart (Toni), Tyler Tomas McDonald (Makenzie), Xavier Alejandro McDonald, Jackson Alexander Perkins, Jazmin Rosabella McDonald, Elena Rae Perkins, Alejandro Eduardo Goldberg, Carmen Antonina Goldberg, Gage Andreas McDonald, Kira Grace Hensley, great-granddaughter, Jalina Marie McDonald, brothers, Alfredo “Fredi” McDonald (Susan) and Carlos McDonald (Laudelina), sister in-law, María Elena Caballero, niece, often referred as the “sixth Caballero-McDonald child” Marlena Caballero Rodríguez (Daniel), grandnephew Noah Guillermo Rodríguez, grandniece Victoria Rose Rodríguez, McDonald and Alonso's cousins, numerous extended family members, and cherished friends. He was preceded in his death by his parents Arturo McDonald, Sr. and Antonina Alonso, and his sister Antonina McDonald.
The visitation and Celebration of Life will be held at Kent-Forrest Lawn Funeral Home on Monday April 12th, commencing with friend’s visitation at 6:00 P.M., followed by a celebration of his life with eulogies, elegies, letters, and epitaphs from families and friends. At 7:30 P.M. the celebration will be concluded with the Rosary. Funeral Mass will be held at St. Dominic’s Catholic Church on Tuesday April 13th, at 1:30 P.M. with Interment following at the Garden of Memories Cemetery in Callaway, FL.
Donations can be made to the Catholic Relief Services at https://support.crs.org/donate/give.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.kentforestlawn.com.
 

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