Sumner Bigelow MacDonald, Jr., 82 of West Harbor Road, Bristol, died Friday, September 22, 2017 at his home, surrounded by his loving family.  He was the husband of Marlies H. (Richter) MacDonald.  
Born in Medford, MA, the son of the late Sumner B. and Margaret H. (McMahon) MacDonald Sr,   he was a resident of Bristol for 32 years, previously residing in Providence, Swansea, MA and Fall River, MA.  
A graduate of the former De La Salle Academy in Newport, he served in the ROTC and was a graduate of the Massachusetts Military Academy.  He received his degree in Industrial Design from the SMTI now UMass, Dartmouth.  He was the Owner/President and Designer of MACX, Inc. of Bristol for 30 years, retiring in 2012.  He previously was a designer for R.F. Simmons, B.A. Ballou, Allison Reed Group, Anson and Balfour Companies.  He was a 1993 Recipient of the S.B.A. Entrepreneurial Success Award.  
Sumner’s love of theatre and film led him to The Little Theatre of Fall River in the early 1960’s, where he served as their president from 1971-1974, designed its logo and was their Master Set Designer.  He also won the Angus Bailey Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010.  He was the Owner and Producer of Port West Players Stage Company in Tiverton from 1973 through 1976.  He also produced 2 local films: “Below The Hill” shot in Fall River, MA in 1963, which was screened at the Venice Film Festival, and “Epitaph For Emily” filmed in Westport, MA, this film went to the Edinburgh Film Festival.  
A brilliant designer, artist and draftsman, he was also a winner of two De Beers Diamond Design Awards.
His loves were boating, cat rescue and animal rights, sketching, theatre, long walks, spending time on his boat on Martha’s Vineyard, he loved hosting parties and always enjoyed a good Manhattan with a cherry.  He was a member of the Providence Art Club, Bristol Yacht Club and Goat Island Yacht Club of Newport.  
In addition to his wife, he leaves behind, daughters; Melissa MacDonald Paradise and her husband Dana of Fall River, MA, Jessica MacDonald Scott and her husband, Alan of Brooklyn, NY and Erin Flanagan of Baltimore, MD, grandchildren; Cassandra Walz, Ami Walz, Johanna Scott and Noelle Hagens, great grandson, Hunter Leo Sumner St. Laurent, several nephews and nieces and his former wife and friend, Janice D’Elia MacDonald.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Nancy MacDonald Bourdon.  

Visiting hours will be held from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM, at Sansone Funeral Home, 192 Wood Street, Bristol, on Wednesday, September 27, 2017, followed by a Graveside service in Celebration of his life at 1:30 PM, in Juniper Hill Cemetery, Sherry Avenue, Bristol.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Memory and Aging Program Research Fund, Butler Hospital, 345 Blackstone Blvd., Providence, RI  02906.  Check can be made payable to Butler Memory and Aging Program.  Online donations to https://foundation.butler.org/
For online condolences, shared memories, information and directions go to www.sansonefuneralhome.com
 

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