William Michael McDonald of Pacific Grove, California, was born on December 9, 1951, and passed peacefully into the presence of the Lord at 9 a.m. on November 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tennessee.
He is survived by his wife, Frances K. Dahlin of Arlington, Tennessee; his brother, Richard McDonald of Portland, Oregon; and several beloved stepchildren and their children. He was preceded in death by his second wife, Sandy Dort; his father, Bill McDonald; his stepmother, Larene Claunch; and his brother, Edwin McDonald.
Michael grew up along the California coast, where he developed a lifelong love of water sports. As a child he was drawn to art, spending hours with books on painting and drawing. His father taught him metal smithing and automotive restoration, but Michael’s deepest passion was always painting. His father arranged for a five-year apprenticeship with an Austrian portrait painter, Sasha Lautman. Upon completion, he was drafted and served six years at the Alameda Naval Station.
Michael earned two degrees at UC Berkeley, one in Architectural Restoration and the other a Bachelor of Fine Arts. After the Navy, his career remained in art and restoration projects all over the world.
Editor’s note: In 2007, Michael McDonald restored the historic Golden Bridge Beverage mural on the Taylor Avenue side of 1431 Webster Street in Alameda.
