On July 30, 2021, MacDonald Lee Rodgers, known by those who loved him as "Daddy Don," passed away in Pensacola, FL following a brief but hard fought battle with cancer. He was 64 years young.

Don was born in Norfolk, VA on January 26, 1957. He was the son of Robert R. Rodgers, a Commander (ret.) in the United States Navy, and Lorene Rodgers, and he was the youngest of four children: Robert (Bob) Rodgers, Clark Rodgers, and Susan Solberg. Having a father in the military, Don and his siblings moved around a lot, but they eventually settled in Warrington near Pensacola. For the next 25 years, his family ran an antique business off Seville Square—Hamilton House Antiques. Throughout his life, Don was an avid surfer who spent the majority of his time on his surfboard catching waves from Johnson Beach and Pensacola Beach, to Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, and beyond. When he was not surfing, he would either be writing and playing music—another one of his passions—or taking his boat out for an afternoon ride. He wanted to do anything that involved being on the water.

Don graduated from Escambia High School in 1975. In 1984, Don joined the United States Air Force and was stationed in Ramstein, Germany, where he met Casey, who was serving in the United States Army at the time.  Don and Casey got married in 1986 in Gulf Breeze, FL before going back to Germany. In 1988, Don left the United States Air Force, and he and Casey moved back to Pensacola Beach and then ultimately Gulf Breeze, where they had two beautiful daughters, Maggie and Hannah, whom he loved more than anything. When Maggie and Hannah were growing up, Don made sure to instill in them a love of the ocean and all things surfing and music.

Later in life, Don earned a Bachelors of Science from the University of West Florida. He then became an elementary school teacher, where he taught physical education, including to children with disabilities. Don loved teaching, and the children he worked with brought much joy to his life.

Don was loved by many. He was a well-known and well-loved member of the surfing community all around Pensacola and beyond, and he was active with events put on by the Surfer's Memorial and the Pensacola Beach Songwriter's Festival, as well as open mic night on Friday nights at Waterboyz. And, if you ever needed to find Don on any given day, the chances of him being on Pensacola Beach, and particularly up on stage at Paradise Bar and Grill, were almost a given.

Don was a gentle soul who enjoyed the little things in life. He will be missed by many, but his spirit lives on in those who knew and loved him.

Don is preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Lorene Rodgers.

He is survived by his daughters, Maggie Riggs (Ryan) and Hannah Pfeifler (Clay); his brother, Bob Rodgers (Sharon); his brother, Clark Rodgers—whom Don was devoted to; his sister, Susan Solberg (Walter); his nephew, Garth Solberg (Heather); and his great nephew, Brandon Solberg.

A Celebration of Life Paddle Out will be held on Friday, August 6, 2021 at 9:00 AM on Pensacola Beach on the right side of the pier.

For anyone who would like to make a donation in Don's memory, please do so to the charity of your choice or to a non-profit dedicated to protecting the ocean and beach environment.