(28 June 1908-20 March 1990), clergyman. (Donald A. Kerr, Donald Kerr) Born in Alexandria, GC. Parents: James Kerr and Mary McPhee. He attended St. Alexander’s Separate School, Alexandria, St. Alexander’s College, Ironside, Que., and the Seminary of Philosophy and the Grand Seminary, Montreal. He was ordained in St. Finnan’s Cathedral, Alexandria, on 15 June 1933. (Glengarry News & Standard Freeholder 16 June 1933) At St. Columban’s, Cornwall, he was an associate pastor from 1933 to 1940. He was a chaplain in the Canadian Army from 1940 to 1946, and was in the invasion force on 6 June 1944, the first day of the Allied landings in Normandy. (GN 7 June 1944) It was announced in 1945 that Fr Donald A. Kerr, Roman Catholic chaplain with the Ninth Infantry Brigade in Europe, had been named senior (Roman Catholic) chaplain of the Third Division overseas. (Glengarry News 15 June 1945) The Glengarry News of 13 July 1945 printed his letter of condolences to Mr and Mrs John D. MacDonell, of Loch Garry, on the death in action in March 1945, on the crossing of the Rhine, of their son Sergt. John Leo MacDonell, of the SD&G Highlanders. Briefly, Fr Kerr was temporary associate pastor at St. Andrew’s West. Thereafter, he was pastor at St. Anthony’s parish, Apple Hill, at St. Michael’s parish, Monkland, at St. Raphael’s, and at Holy Cross parish, Cornwall, before becoming rector of St. Finnan’s in 1965. His longest pastorate, 1948 to 1961, was at St. Raphael’s. He served also as chaplain at Macdonell Memorial Hospital, Cornwall. In 1962, he was elevated to the rank of Monsignor. (GN 15 Nov. 1962 ) He died in Cornwall at the Janet Macdonell Pavilion. He is buried at St. Finnan’s cemetery. He was a grandnephew of Fr Alexander Macdonell, the first bishop of Alexandria, and was the great grandnephew of Cosmos Kerr. Mgr Kerr’s sister was married to Dr D. D. McIntosh.

Glengarry News 21 March 1990 (portrait) * Villeneuve, 66-67, 161 * obituary of his twin brother Alexander William Kerr (Alexander Kerr), GN 4 July 1990 * Choquette 69 * promotes restoration of St. Raphael’s Cemetery, GN 13 March 1953 * to be rector of St. Finnan’s, GN 21 Jan. 1965 * honoured at St. Raphael’s on the 50th anniversary of his ordination, GN 22 June 1983 (includes recollections of war) * letter from Fr D. A. Kerr to his mother describing recent tour of Scotland by himself and Fr Ewen J. Macdonald, both army chaplains, printed Standard Freeholder 16 Feb. 1943 * John Leo MacDonell: see also Boss 145-146, 281