Salisbury and Wicomico County are mourning a man who devoted his entire life to improving the community.

Whether it be through youth basketball, or as a substance abuse counselor or as a thoughtful voice on the County Council, he was a man who always listened to people and always wanted to help.

David Alan MacLeod, 82, of Salisbury, died Sunday, June 9, 2018, peacefully at his home surrounded by family.

Born in Lima, Ohio, his parents were the late Alice CaJacob and Alan Lawson MacLeod.

He was an accomplished basketball player in both high school and at Indiana University, where he earned a degree in Health Physical Education, and Recreation with a minor in History.

He later earned a Master’s of Arts in Counseling from Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines.  MacLeod served in the U.S. Army Security Agency in Germany and later worked for the Central Intelligence Agency at posts in Liberia, Thailand, and the Philippines.

Feeling that his life’s work should focus on serving others, he left government service to work with those troubled with substance abuse and addictions. He ultimately became Director of Addictions Services for the Worcester County Health Department and retired after 20 years of service.

He remained active in the U.S. Army Reserves and retired with the rank of Master Sergeant after 22 years of service.

He was an avid reader and enjoyed traveling, exercise at the YMCA, fishing at Assateague and hosting friends and family at an annual crab feast.

He was a lifelong, active Democrat and won election to the Wicomico County Council in 2007. He also served and supported numerous community and service organizations, including the Knights of Columbus as a Past Grand Knight and Faithful Navigator, Rotary Club of Salisbury, Wicomico County Democratic Central Committee, Wicomico County Drug and Alcohol Council, Second Wind Inc., Hunting Park Neighborhood Association, Poplar Hill Mansion Board of Directors, MAC Inc. Board of Directors, and the Wicomico County Commission on Aging.

MacLeod was also an Adjunct Professor with the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and a member of the Administrative Board of the Maryland Catholic Conference for the Diocese of Wilmington.

He was the recipient of a number of awards from the State of Maryland including; Distinguished Contribution to the Field of Alcoholism Award, Meritorious Service in the Drug Abuse Field Award and the Public Health Hero Award.

He is survived by five children: Bruce MacLeod of Pittsburgh, Jeanne Yeager and Chip MacLeod of Chestertown, Dan MacLeod of Galena, Md., and Steve MacLeod of Ocean Pines; 15 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. He is also survived by a sister, Diane Christie of Berwick, Pa.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Joan.

Family and friends will gather for a visitation on Monday, June 18, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Holloway Funeral Home in Salisbury. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, June 19, at 11 a.m. at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Salisbury, where an additional visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.

Burial will be private following the service at Maryland Veterans Cemetery in Hurlock.

Donations can be made to The Joseph House at P.O. Box 1755 Salisbury, MD 21802 or to Mid-Shore Council on Family Violence, 8626 Brooks Drive, Suite 102, Easton, MD 21601.