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LQ 16- PORT PERRY STAR - Wednesday, October 14, 1998 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" YOUR INDEPENDENT GROCER OUR FLYER SPECIALS NOW START ON ---- =? = -- eX BEGINNING THIS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17. { OBITUARY D. Campbell 'Doc' MacMaster was respected in By John B. McClelland Port Perry Star Dougald Campbell MacMaster first began to show an interest in veterinary medicine at a very young age. During the summer months, he would assist his father, James, a Port Perry veterinarian, and especially when his father's health began to: decline in the last couple of years of his life. It was only natural that the young man would go off to the University of Guelph to study veterinary medicine after completing high school in Port Perry. He graduated in 1942, and returned home that same year to set up his own practice. For the next 34 years, 'Doc' MacMaster carried on his practice here in Port Perry. Dr. MacMaster passed away peace- fully last week at age 82, after several years of declining health. The funeral service was held in Port Perry on Sunday, Oct. 12. With a specialty in dairy cattle, he was a well known figure to many of the.farmers around the community. He was proud of his profession, and dedi- cated to it. He developed a deep respect for the farmers and the people of Port Perry and surrounding area. And they admired and respected him. So much so that on his retirement in 1976, an appreciation night was held to honour his long and faithful service to this community. He was born in 1916 in Cornwall, Ontario, the eldest of four sons (his brothers were Archie, Gordon and Glenn) of James D. MacMaster and Donalda MacGillivray. He was just two years of age -- his brother Archie was only a few days old --when the family moved to Port Perry in January, 1919. As a very young boy, he would return each summer to Glengarry County to spend time with relatives. He always carried a special interest in his roots in Glengarry, and remained in close contact all his life with his "down east" cousins. His brother Glenn was killed in service during World War II. In 1938 he married Helen Carter. She worked to help put him through university, and even while raising three children, took an active role in the practice, working in the office, answering the phone (which seemed to ring constantly at all hours of the day and night, and there was no such gadget 1s an answering machine) and assisting .n the operating room. Helen passed away a few years ago, and Doc felt her loss severely. Although his work as a veterinarian . kept him very busy -- seven days a week, all hours of the day and night -- Dr. MacMaster was a staunch commu- nity supporter and active volunteer. He served on the local school board, including time as chairmah, was a member of the arena board, supported minor sports for children, and was a long time member of St. John's Presbyterian Church. When the community opened its 'new' arena in the early 1950's at the back of what is now the Bank of Commerce on Queen St., Doc MacMaster took a course in the opera- tion and maintenance of the plant that made the artificial ice. He could hear the sounds of the ice plant from the bed- room window of the family home and veterinary office on N orth St.(the house ' - is now used for offices by Dr. MacMaster Scugopg Township). And if there was a problem during the night with the ice plant, he would put on his winter clothes and go through the back door of the arena to fix whatever was wrong. There would be fast, strong ice for hockey and skat- ing the next day. This was not a paid position. He also served as the "watchdog" for the ice plant at the curling club, con- stantly setting and adjusting the con- trols to make sure the ice was 'just right.' He was very devoted to his three children, Muriel, James (Jim) and John. His son Jim described his dad as "always the disciplinarian in the family, so when we did something wrong, Mom was the first to know, so that she could soften the punishment." He strongly supported his children in everything they did, and helped them in any way he could. He took tremendous pride in their achievements, and family occasions, such as Christmas, cottage vacations, trips to the east and west coast, and skating on Lake Scugog, were always something special. And he took the same active and caring interest in the lives of his eight grandchildren. On his retirement from medicine, he took up an unusual hobby -- the collec- tion of Avon bottles, many of which he found in auctions and yard sales. Over the years, he acquired a collection with over 1,000 pieces in it, including a complete chess set with the players capped with gold and silver tops. On the occasion of the community appreciation night held shortly after his retirement, one of those attending said the following about 'Doc' MacMaster that perhaps best sums up the kind of esteem people held for him: "He will be missed by the farmers. He's a friend as well as a vet. He took a personal interest... you just don't find that type any more." His health had declined in the past few years. A heart condition forced him to be on oxygen, but with the help and support of his family, friends and community organizations, he was able to continue living in his own home until a fall hospitalized him a couple of weeks ago. More than 20 years ago, a friend came up with this humourous descrip- tion of 'Doc' MacMaster: "When he was treating a cow and got kicked in the knee, he would kick right back and community Horticultural Society to meet on Oct. 28 The Brooklin Horticultural Society Lug-a-mug for refreshments. will hold its next meeting at Brooklin Everyone welcome. "United Church Oct, 28 at 8 p.m. For further information call 905- Guest speaker will be Art Scoliniki 655-5464 on the topic of Bonsai. +