Thomas L. McDonald II, 54, died May 6, suddenly and unexpectedly, in Crofton, Md. He was born May 18, 1959, in Bridgeport. He was the son of Elizabeth (Metzger) Doty of Sandy Hook and the late Thomas L. McDonald.

Mr McDonald graduated from Immaculate High School, attended St Anslems College in New Hampshire, and graduated from the Bridgeport School of Engineering.

He worked in various capacities in the aerospace industry for the past 15 years. He was employed at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington DC as an analytical engineer, where he received many accolades from the Secretary of the Navy for his aerospace work. His many projects included the Hubble Telescope, numerous satellites, and, most recently, the International Space Station. 

He was an active member of the Maryland Antique Radio Club, The Maryland Rocket Association, and was an active ham radio operator.

In addition to his mother, his sisters Elizabeth Doty of Sandy Hook, Marybeth Glen, and husband Jeff, of Hudson, Ohio, and Megan Darragh, and husband Paul, of Southbury; his brothers David S. McDonald of Lake Leelanau, Mich., and Sean McDonald, and wife Glenda, of Danielson survive Mr McDonald. He will be dearly missed by his many nephews and nieces. His brother, Christopher Scott McDonald, and sister, Bridget Ann McDonald, predeceased Mr McDonald.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Sacred Heart Church, 910 Main Street South, Southbury, Wednesday May 14, at 11 am. Interment will be in St Rose Cemetery, Sandy Hook. Friends may call Wednesday morning from 10 to 11 am, in the daily chapel of the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St Jude Children’s Hospital at www.stjude.org.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown.