MacDonald currently lives with his wife, Wendy, who played college hockey for Cornell, and his children: Catherine, 13; Ben, 10; and Madeline, 8.
After graduating cum laude out of Kirkland House with a degree in economics, MacDonald turned down NHL opportunities because of health concerns and played briefly for a Swiss professional team and the U.S. national team. He came back to Harvard as an assistant coach for the 1990-91 season and with Janfaza founded the Crimson Hockey School, a summer program they ran for 10 years.
MacDonald also dabbled in broadcasting, serving as a hockey analyst for TNT’s daytime coverage of the 1992 and 1994 Olympics.
Yet MacDonald found his ultimate vocation in investing. Janfaza feels that the same characteristics that made MacDonald a successful captain have made him a successful businessman.
“He’s had great success in business and has accumulated a wealth of knowledge,” Janfaza says. “He is very thoughtful, and people like him and trust him to make good decisions.”
Earlier this year, MacDonald left his new post as Harvard’s Managing Director of Private Equity after five years with the Harvard Management Company to become president of Crosby Advisors—a small group of investors that handles the wealth of Fidelity Investments chief Edward C. Johnson III ’54 and his family.
“It was an incredibly difficult decision to make,” MacDonald says. “I really love Harvard Management Company.... I felt like you were there to make money for a great cause, particularly for admissions and financial aid.”
MacDonald recently finished his term as President of the Harvard Varsity Club. He coaches his son’s team, and he plays non-contact pick-up games with former teammates and a collection of older and younger alums from other hockey programs on Sunday mornings.
According to Janfaza, MacDonald can keep up with the 25-year-olds. In the last quarter century, not much has changed about MacDonald, from his conditioning to his character.
“I’ve seen most of the body of work, and he’s been so consistent for so long at such a high level,” Janfaza says. “He never surprises me.”
—Staff writer Michael D. Ledecky can be reached at mledecky@college.harvard.edu.