Jacqueline MacDonald

Fall 1960

Full Name Jacqueline Donna Robinson MacDonald

Did you (or do you still) have a nickname? At Canton, I went by Jaydee. I had had about all of “Jackie Robinson” I could take.

Family Divorced, widowed, divorced.  I have two children, Traci (38) and Rob (35) and one beautiful grandson, Jack (19 months).  Traci is in Hudson, NH, and is an elementary school guidance counselor in the Pelham School District.  Rob got his degree in restaurant management, but has found he likes tree work better. Jack is just all around wonderful. And I am owned by a very bossy Siamese kitty who allows me to live in her house.

What do you do for a living? I was a secretary for 40 years. I retired from Niagara Mohawk and then worked part time for a lawyer. Now I’m working part time at a small graphic design/print center here in Mexico. I do whatever’s asked of me, including getting the mail.

Where were you born, where do you live now? I was born in Syracuse, New York, but moved to Mexico in 1953. I’ve lived here, with the exception of 10 years right after high school, ever since.

What are your hobbies? I love to read. I bowl and golf, although I’m not very good at either. I’ve tried painting, I enjoy needlework, and started taking piano lessons six years ago. Someday I’ll figure out what I want to do when I grow up (besides writing the great American novel).

Favorite Food Depends on my mood at the moment. But I DO NOT DO lima beans!!!!

Favorite Movie I’m a sucker for chick flicks. My favorite is When Harry Met Sally. I can almost recite the lines by heart.

Favorite City I love Toronto, and I’ve rediscovered New York

Favorite Book or Author I love James Patterson for mysteries, Nora Roberts for romance, and I have every “Cat Who.....” book that Lillian Jackson Braun has written. I also like Harry Potter.

Favorite Quote I don’t know if I have a favorite, but I get caught saying “Ya think?” a lot.

Pledge Class Pledged in the Fall of 1960.

Big Sister and Big Brother  My Big Sister was/is Fran Newsome Luther, Class of 1961. She and I still play golf once a year. We didn’t have Big Brothers then.

Number of Pledge Sisters I think there were 12 or 13 of us, but I can’t remember for sure. I remember Sue Lennox, Stella LaGree, Elaine Vinette, Bobby Sutphen, Linda Brown, Judy Dolan, Dottie Cornell, Ginny Breaky, Bev Liebi, and Lee Senter. There was one more I can’t recall. Bobby and Bev are deceased. Linda and Lee are among the missing.

Who did you take to your first AXO formal? We didn’t have a formal. Our big dance was Winter Carnival.  I went to my first Winter Carnival dance with Paul Bisaillon, the TG who eventually became my first husband.

If you could relive one moment as an active member of AXO, what would it be? There were so many moments to remember. But one of the funniest was sneaking a six pack of warm beer past our half-deaf housemother and playing hearts in an upstairs room while we drank it. The drinking age at that time was 18, but the campus was totally dry.

What did you learn during pledging/orientation that has stayed with you for the rest of your life? Stand by your convictions. Don’t let anyone talk you into something that goes against your grain or you feel is wrong.

What advice would you give to a woman who is thinking of pledging? Go for it and enjoy the experience. Remember, you have things to offer the organization as well.

What advice would you give to an active member of AXO (still at school)? Cherish the friendships and support that the sisterhood has to offer. Remember, too, that you’re in school for the education. And as hokey as it sounds, practice The Golden Rule. You can’t go wrong if you do.

Final notes... Our Greek experience was so different from yours. We had to sign in and sign out, and we were restricted as to how far we could travel without special permission. Girls were required to wear skirts on campus at all times (and there were no on-campus dorms, which made for some pretty cold walks in the morning). During my senior year, rules were relaxed so we could wear slacks after 3:00 p.m. on Friday, but the campus was closed from 10:00 Friday night until Monday morning. We had to be in by 8:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday. (Used to drive us nuts to watch the four-year-old next door riding his tricycle after we had to be in.) You were charged one point for every class you missed without an excuse; so many points and you couldn’t graduate. When Alan Shepherd was the first American man sent into space in the spring of 1961, classes were cancelled until he was successfully launched. Today these things don’t even raise an eyebrow.  But the education we received was excellent, and the friends we made were just as true as the ones you make today.