Donald J. McDonald; Former Head of Santa Barbara Think Tank

Donald J. McDonald, 72, former director of the Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions, a think tank in Santa Barbara. Born and reared in Wisconsin, McDonald served as a B-24 instructor pilot in the Army Air Corps in World War II, then earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in journalism at Marquette University. For 10 years he edited the Catholic Messenger in Davenport, Iowa, before founding the Marquette University Magazine. From 1962 to 1965, he was dean of Marquette’s College of Journalism. He began his work for the Santa Barbara think tank as a senior fellow in 1965, edited the center’s magazine, and in 1985 was named director. He retired in 1987. On March 16 in Santa Barbara of unreported causes.