Donald MacClary Obituary

Bruce MacClary was born in Cranford, New Jersey, on November 6, 1932. He passed away peacefully on November 18, 2025, surrounded by the family he adored in his home in Mountain Brook. He was 93 years old, a long life lived with purpose, devotion, hard work, humor, and deep faith.
Bruce grew up in Cranford, graduating from Cranford High School where he played ice hockey and managed both the football and track teams. He went on to attend Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, graduating in the class of 1955 earning a degree in Finance. Bruce was a proud member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity and remained close to many of his fraternity brothers throughout his life.
Following college, Bruce served his country in the U.S. Army for two years stationed at Fort Bliss and was honorably discharged as a First Lieutenant.
After his service, he moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, where he met the love of his life, Jacqueline (Jackie), his devoted wife of 66 years. Bruce and Jackie later moved to Birmingham, Alabama, where he worked as a sales representative for Scott Paper Company before entering the investment business as a stock trader. Before long, he discovered his true calling: construction and development.
Bruce was a self-taught builder and developer, blessed with creativity, vision, and a gift for seeing possibilities where others saw obstacles. He built and developed numerous residential projects in and around Birmingham and Lake Martin-including properties many thought were "undevelopable." His company and partners developed River Run along with several other notable developments, and he crafted a home for his own family at Lake Martin, where he spent more than forty years making memories, mentoring, entertaining, and watching his family grow.
He could repair anything, and his friends famously coined the phrase "Hey Bruce..." because any visit or phone call often began with a question about a roof leak, a broken engine, or some other mystery only Bruce could solve. The nickname stuck-and it became one of the many affectionate names by which he was known: DB, Pops, "Hey Bruce," and simply, Friend.
Bruce was a man of deep relationships. For decades he kept a weekly lunch tradition with friends at Lloyd's Restaurant-always ordering the same turkey sandwich-and he enjoyed regular rounds with his golf group. Though he outlived most of these friends, he kept their memories close and their stories alive, staying in touch with families and honoring those friendships with a quiet loyalty.
A lover of football, Bruce followed Alabama closely and attended countless games at Legion Field. He also developed a meaningful friendship with Coach Pat Dye, who once visited Bruce at Lake Martin to discuss building a house. When they met, Bruce-never one to be starstruck-asked him plainly, "So, you live in Auburn? What do you do down there?" Coach Dye answered, "I work for the University," and a lasting friendship began.
Bruce was fiercely patriotic, a true member of the Greatest Generation. He sang "God Bless America" with gusto, always choking up at the final lines. His faith anchored his life. For 66 years he was a devoted member of St. Mary's-on-the-Highlands, serving on the vestry and as treasurer. He sat in the same pew every Sunday and was known to get a bit irritated if someone else happened to beat him to his spot.
Above all, Bruce loved his family-his wife Jackie, his daughters Cay and Donne, and later his sons-in-law, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He often said he was "the luckiest man in the world to have such a beautiful family," a sentiment he lived out daily in quiet acts of love and generosity. He mentored countless young people over the years, offering guidance, practical wisdom, and encouragement in their careers and life decisions.
Bruce was preceded in death by his father and mother, H. Stanley MacClary and Suzie B. MacClary, and his brothers Stanley, David, Robert, and Richard MacClary. He is survived by his daughters Catherine (Cay) Rogers (Mike) of Mobile and Donne Toomey (Patrick) of Birmingham; and his grandchildren Catie Trent (Cooper), Jackie Hollingsworth (Will), Leigh Rogers, Sullins Oslund (Elliott), Patrick Toomey Jr. (Jordan), and Bruce Toomey. He is also survived by five great-grandchildren: Louise Trent, Cooper Trent, Bowen Trent, Fox Hollingsworth, and Champ Hollingsworth.
Bruce lived fully, loved deeply, and leaves behind a legacy of family, faith, craftsmanship, loyalty, and kindness. He will be missed beyond measure.
A celebration of Life will be held at St. Mary's on-the-highland Episcopal Church at 2:00pm Tuesday, November 25th. Visitation will begin at 1:00pm prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers Donations can be made to St. Mary's-on-the-Highlands - 1910 12th Avenue South - Birmingham, AL 35205 and Children's Harbor - 434 Children's Harbor Drive - Eclectic, AL 36024.