We regret to advise of the death of Major Roderick E. ''Roddie'' MacDonald, RCE (Ret'd) on 24 October 2013 at the Ottawa General Hospital at the age of 96.

Born in Florence NS, Roderick was a graduate of Acadia University (1939) and worked briefly in the lab at the Sydney Steel Plant after graduation. With the onset of World War II, Roddie joined the Army and served in the Royal Canadian Engineers in Sicily, Italy, and the liberation of Holland. After the war Roderick commanded No. 1 Radiation Detection Unit through the early 1950s including their participation in Allied and Commonwealth nuclear tests in Nevada and Australia, and played a part in developing much of the dosimeter, radiation detection and safeguard technology in use today.

A celebration of Roddie`s life will be held in Ottawa at the Perley & Rideau Veteran`s Health Care Centre in Lupton Hall at 10:00am on Saturday, 2 November. A memorial service for the interment of ashes will be held in Sydney NS at a future date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Perley & Rideau Veterans Health Centre Foundation, the Ottawa Hospital Foundation, or the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal.