Donald McKay MD

Donald McKay, MD, passed away peacefully at his home following a long illness.  He was surrounded by his loving wife, his daughters, his brother, his sister and his two nieces.  He was a longtime Belmont resident, devoted husband of 56 years to Yvonne (Tsesmedzis) McKay and doting father to his two daughters Alexandra Mitten (Michael) of Erie, PA and Kristina Young (Owen) of Topsfield, MA.  He was the proud grandfather of Samuel, Thomas and Benjamin Sesler and Christofer and Janey Young.  He was son of the late Richard and Isabelle (McCleary) McKay.  He also leaves his adored sister Martha (McKay) Frigoletto of Wellesley and dear brother Dr. Lauchlan McKay and wife Dianne of Myrtle Beach, SC.  He was the loving uncle to Susan Frigoletto and Laurie Perdoni and was a beloved great uncle to their children.  He was preceded in death by his treasured brother in law, Dr. Frederic Frigoletto.  He will be greatly missed.

Donald graduated from Philips Exeter Academy in 1951 and Harvard University in 1955.  He continued his education at the School of Medicine at George Washington University where he was a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. He graduated in 1961.  He completed his residency on the Harvard Surgical Service at Boston City Hospital in April of 1967.  He then served in the United States Army Medical Corps as a Major in Vietnam from 1967 to 1969.  Following his discharge, he completed a fellowship in Hand Surgery at The Roosevelt Hospital in New York City in 1970.  He returned to the Boston area where he was affiliated with several Middlesex hospitals and had a private practice as well.  He was the Director of Hand Surgery at Mount Auburn Hospital.  He retired in 2002.  The motto for the the McKay Family clan is Manu Forti – “strong of hand.”  Dr. McKay’s passion was preserving and restoring the use of strong hands for his patients. 

Upon retirement from practicing medicine he dedicated his time to teaching others about his love of medicine.  He mentored medical students at Boston University Medical School and volunteered teaching science concepts to high school students in the greater Boston area through the RE-SEED program at Northeastern University.  He was a member of the USS Constitution Model Shipwright Guild.  As an ancestor of the shipbuilder Donald McKay, he had a lifelong love of maritime history and ship building. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dr. McKay’s memory to: Mount Auburn Hospital, Development Office, 330 Mount Auburn Street, Cambridge, MA 02138.  A funeral service will held be at the Newton Cemetery Chapel, 791 Walnut Street at 10:30 am on Monday, April 29th.  Burial immediately following.

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