Don McIntosh

1928 — 2023

Donald Malcolm McIntosh was born in San Francisco, California on November 8, 1928 and died in Bellingham, Washington on October 2, 2023. Don’s father, Raymond McIntosh, whose family was from Scotland, was born in New Brunswick, Canada. His mother, Theodora Snijders, was born in Holland.

Don, his half-sister Rudolphine Kramer McIntosh, and his parents moved to Downieville in 1931 where Don attended the grade school from 1st through 5th grade. His favorite teacher there was Bell Alexander. He spoke of her often, including the hard salt water taffy she made for all the children every Christmas. His favorite poet was Gerard Manley Hopkins, who he said changed his life. Don’s dad was a Sierra County Superior Court judge, who traveled the entire state while spending considerable time in Southern California. Due to the decision made by Don’s mom and sister to stay in Hollywood, Don had to move away from his beloved Downieville. He did spend summers there until he graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in cinematography. Prior to attending university, Don had joined the Marines in 1946 and was based at the U. S. Marine Corps Air Station El Toro for the three years he was in the service.

While attending USC, Don met and married Esther Jean Zalkin, and they had a daughter, Laurel Elizabeth McIntosh. The marriage didn’t last long, but they remained friends. Don worked in the filming business for 30 years, mostly filming wildlife documentaries all over the world while living in Hollywood. He is also known for Davey and Goliath, The Gumby Show, and Bill Burrud’s Animal World. Some of his most memorable places were Africa and Saudi Arabia, and he repeatedly told stories of a delicious soup in Mexico, but his favorite spot was Death Valley, California.

In 1984, Don retired to Downieville, where he served as a county supervisor from 1989-1997 and was the docent for the Downieville Museum. Don’s love for history was remarkable. His stories of the past were detailed and never-ending. Additionally he was captain of the Downieville Search and Rescue for a few years and chair of the arts council, but his main love was politics. He was a political junkie and a devoted Democrat. He lived in Downieville until health issues and his dislike for bicyclists prompted him to move in 2013. He and his long-time love, Lori, first moved to Arizona, and later, when he showed signs of dementia in 2014, settled in Bellingham, Washington, where his daughter and granddaughter reside.

Donald McIntosh is survived by his long-time companion, Lori Prorok, daughter Laurel McIntosh, son-in-law David Bussell, granddaughter Kendra Leigh Miller, and Kendra’s husband Erin Crosby, all of Bellingham, along with great-granddaughter Jessica Bleth, and great-grandson Joshua Bleth. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Rudolphine (Tracy) Kramer McIntosh, and his ex-wife Jean (Wilson) Zalkin.

There will be no religious service as Don was an agnostic. He requested to be cremated and have his ashes spread back to this earth. Donations may be made to the Downieville Museum, PO Box Drawer 1, Downieville, CA 95936