Robert “Bob” MacDonald, 82, died June 20 in Wakefield, RI, following a lengthy battle with cancer.

In 1989, he founded Mac Fasteners in Ottawa, KS, “starting in a small, run-down building with no heat or air conditioning and just five well-used machines—purchased with funds from his sons’ college savings accounts."

Over the next 25 years, he built the company into a manufacturer of aerospace-standard screws and bolts produced from A286, 302 and 431 stainless steels, 4037, 8740, INCO-718, and other approved aerospace alloys. He sold Mac Fasteners to PennAero in 2014.

MacDonald is survived by Arlene, his wife of 58 years; sons John, Brian and Kevin; and seven grandchildren.