NEMRA lost one of its best-known leaders this past Sunday with the news that Dennis Patrick McDonald, died on April 9 at his Chicago area home after a long courageous battle with cancer. He was the owner of McDonald Associates; gave tirelessly of his time to the National Electrical Manufacturers Representatives Association (NEMRA); and was a past-chairman of NEMRA. Along with being recognized by Electrical Wholesaling as one of the rep industry’s leaders with the 2003 GEM Award recipient for Independent Reps, he was also honored by the Electrical Association of Chicago as a Big Shillelagh in 2011.
When Dennis won the 2003 GEM Award the article in Electrical Wholesaling on that award offered a little bit of insight into a person who was proud of being an independent rep and enjoyed taking on and often beating manufacturers with direct sales forces with a package of services and an unmistakable personal touch of the Irish that he and his brother, Kevin, nurtured ever since they first started the McDonald Associates rep agency.
Dennis is survived by his wife of 35 years, Linda McDonald (nee Daniels); his children, Kelly (Mike) Dziurgot, Kara McDonald, and Patrick (Kristi) McDonald; his grandson Colin Dziurgot; his siblings Richard (Pamela) McDonald, Maureen (Mike) LeVanti, Kevin (Susan) McDonald, Kathleen (Mike) Holt, Theresa (Richard) Paul, Terrance McDonald, Marguerite (Todd) Montgomery, Virginia McDonald; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sister, Mary McDonald and his parents.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to American Cancer Society. For more information on Dennis’ electrical career, check out his obituary on www.ewweb.com.