Donald met me and 12 students at the Kirk and told us so much about Scotland and the area. — with Donald Maclaren and Art Busbey

I wish I had known Donald longer. He was the consummate gentleman, a gracious host, a story teller without equal, and a clan chief without equal. I treasure the times I met with and talked to him. When I took college students to Balquhidder he met us in the Kirk yard and told stories of the glen and braes and Scotland. Not a person left unaffected. I feel blessed that I could meet with Donald and Maida several times, in Scotland and in the US. I can't I imagine how hard this is for his family, thank you all for sharing him with the rest of us.  Gun rachadh Dia leat.

I would like to convey my deepest condolences to Chief Donalds family.  As having MacLaren blood in me I had the great pleasure of seeing him and hearing his speech at the 2022 Stone Mountain Highland Games.  And I would also like to give our condolences on behalf of Clan Rose International.  Creag an Tuirc

I wish, on behalf of all of us at The Clan Logan Society of Canada, to offer our heartfelt condolences for the loss of Chief Donald MacLaren of MacLaren. I had the honour to meet such a fine Gentleman at the Scottish games in Fergus Ontario as I represented Clan Logan. He will be greatly missed.

My sincere sympathy to Chief Donald’s family. I’m thankful that I had the pleasure of meeting this kind gentleman on a few occasions several years ago. May God bless his family and friends and may wonderful memories ease their grief. 

My favorite memory of Chief Donald always will be the "Ode to a Haggis" recited at a clan dinner during the Stone Mountain games in 2022. Covid had faded, Scots and others could gather again. There was such joy that evening and somehow I was induced to finish the last of the whiskey. Donald was our leader and our companion, a fine gentleman and a boisterous friend. He will be missed from Scotland to the United States and beyond. May your family, Maida and the children, be blessed with equally happy memories.

My sincere sympathy to Maida and the children.  I had the pleasure of meeting Donald at his 50 th celebrations at Grand Father Mountain and also his celebration at the Lochearnhead games that year.  I will always remember Donald as a true leader and gentleman .  Beverly Hecker, Rapid City, SD

Maida and family,

First of all, allow be to express my heartfelt condolences to you during this time of grief.  How quickly this shocking loss has come upon you and for all of us who knew Chief Donald. I am so grateful that I had the privilege of meeting him and also thankful that my son and his wife were able to meet him at the kirk this past May during their visit to Scotland.  Meeting Chief Donald and listening to his speak he’s and piping made me ever more proud to be a McLaren. God bless you all!  -  John Layton Lowrie 

Unfortunately, I never met Donald, but we did exchange nearly a dozen emails when he was giving me information about Balquhidder and the area.  I live in the States, so I couldn't get to Scotland to do first-hand research.  I was writing one of my British mystery novels, and the plot took my protagonist to Balquhidder. Donald described the village, the road, the Balvaig bridge, described the land in general and specifically between Loch Doine and Loch Voil and if my hero could walk between the bodies of water.  As he became familiar with my book's plot, he suggested I use the old cottage that belonged to Big Donald of the Cattle in the story.  It was a brilliant suggestion, and I plopped it into the storyline.  And, as many things do, it became a pivotal part of the plot.  He also related the clan mermaid story, which I used in another book in the same series.  Donald was so generous with his time and made me feel as if my questions and my books were important.  I will always cherish his help with my books, and I will always cherish his kindness.  I just wish I could have met him to thank him in person.  He was a special person to me, and I'm thankful that part of him lives on in my mystery novels.

Although I never had the pleasure of meeting Donald in person I did have the honour of speaking with him over zoom many times. We worked closely together on a special project and his humour, kindness and comprehensive knowledge of Scottish and Clan history was a true inspiration. All my prayers, thoughts and deepest sympathies are with Maida and their children at this difficult time. Donald contributed so much to the Clan and Scotland - he will be sorely missed by myself so many others around the world.

Sincere condolences from the Craignavie MacLaurins via Canada to the US. 

My wife and I had the pleasure of meeting Donald in 1972, when I was in a medical internship in Columbus Ohio, and he was the newly minted clan Chief. He came to our small apartment building that was all doctors in training and played the pipes in the hallways which created quite a stir. He then went to visit my father, Stuart, in Cleveland,who spent many of his later years publishing our family’s genealogy. 

46 years later, My two sons, Kurtis and Justin and I went to Balqhuidder, and spent a number of hours visiting the family farm, climbing up to the rock, and having lunch at a delightful local restaurant. None of us will ever forget that trip. Including the fact that Donald was able to easily climb up the mile to the rock, with his hands behind his back, while I had to stop halfway up before finishing the climb. The many stories he told will be with us forever.  

Again, our condolences to the family,and may he rest in peace 

John MacLaurin

You are all in our thoughts and prayers. Love, Chris and Tevia McLaren.

My deepest sympathy to Maida and family.  Donald was a consummate gentleman.  I had the privilege of meeting Donald in Balquhidder and then again at the 50 year anniversary of being the clan chief at Grandfather Mountain.  A wonderful man and a wealth of Clan knowledge.  He will be truly missed.

Chief Donald and the McLaren Boys — with Lorn and Duncan McLaren

Beautiful Balquhidder — with Lisa Lowrey Gonzalez, Donald MacLaren and Maida MacLaren

Donald was such a gracious chief, his presence will be sorely missed at the games . My deepest condolences to his family 

Donald, John, and Maida — with John Bolton CMSNA

I am saddened to hear about the loss of Donald. I'll always think of him and Maida speaking with me at great length while I drove them to the games at Loon Mountain in New Hampshire in 2012. I enjoyed that conversation greatly and remember it very fondly. It was a wonderful chance to get to know the two of them better. I wish to offer my condolences to Donald's family and pray they find strength moving forward.

Donald was an amazing Chief for Clan MacLaren and a driving force within the Scottish community. He was also a very dear friend and I valued his guidance on many issues. 

Sending hugs and comforting thoughts to Maida, and their children, Donald Og, Florian,  Louis, Iona and Marina during this difficult time

Mark McLaren 

Mark and I are beyond sad that Donald has passed.  He was a force of nature with a wit like no other. Heaven is richer today with his presence. We will miss him so much. Maida and their children are in our hearts.  Nancy Norland and Mark McLaren