Obituary of
Donna Alice Short McBride
Donna Alice Short McBride, 69, died on August 1, 2023, at T. Boone Pickens Center Faith Presbyterian Hospice in Dallas, Texas, two months following a diagnosis of ovarian cancer. She was born on August 24, 1953, in Dallas to Millard Donald and Barbara Alice Feris Short, and grew up in Oak Cliff, where she graduated from Justin F. Kimball High School in 1971. She married Philip McBride in Dallas on July 16, 1977. Donna and Phil shared a common faith and an abiding love. Together they enjoyed spending time with family and friends, collecting art, renovating their homes, trying new restaurants, and traveling, especially their many trips to Europe, Canada, and throughout the U.S.
A lifelong scholar, Donna majored in history and minored in Spanish at the University of Texas at Arlington. She earned her B.A. from UTA in 1976, graduating magna cum laude. She earned an M.A. in Arts and Humanities from the University of Texas at Dallas in December 1987, and a Ph.D. in Arts and Humanities with concentrations in literary studies and the history of ideas from the same institution in 1992.
Among many honors, Donna was named a Coolidge Fellow in 1995, receiving a research fellowship from the Association for Religion and Intellectual Life to do postdoctoral work at Harvard University and the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Southern Methodist University awarded her a Dedman College Fellowship to attend a postgraduate seminar at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1993.
Donna spent her professional life as an educator at the secondary and collegiate levels. She loved to teach, starting her career at Tyler Street Christian Academy. She first served Trinity Christian Academy in Addison, Texas, as a Spanish and history teacher, chairing the foreign language and history departments, before leaving in 1985 to pursue graduate work. She returned to Trinity as head of the upper school in 1994, stepping down in 2000 to resume her first love, teaching. Until her retirement from Trinity in 2014, she inspired generations of Advanced Placement students by teaching the school’s nationally recognized humanities curriculum that she helped develop. Her students appreciated her humor, wit, wisdom, and passion for the subject. She was a master storyteller.
In addition to her work in secondary schools, Donna also was a senior lecturer in rhetoric and co-director of the Freshman Writing Program at the University of Texas at Dallas from 1993-1994, and a full-time lecturer in English at SMU the prior academic year.
Donna continued to teach following her retirement from Trinity Christian Academy, leading adult discussion groups in the popular “The Historians” book study sponsored by the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture from 2016-2021. She also led a science fiction book discussion group for the Institute and was named a Fellow of the Dallas Institute. She was a senior consultant in history for the MacMillan Institute until 2023, served on the board of the Louise and Donald Cowan Center for Education, and was part of the leadership team, conducting teacher in-service workshops.
Donna was, foremost, a woman of faith, deeply committed to her relationship with Jesus Christ. She was raised at what is now known as Elmwood United Methodist Church in Oak Cliff. She was passionate about helping the less fortunate and providing women with opportunities to achieve.
Relationships were also supremely important to her, and she loved staying connected to her four brothers and their families and other relatives. She was an exemplary friend, the one who organized regular gatherings with her lifelong girlfriends and in-person or Zoom get-togethers with other treasured “sisters” and friends. Always the first to send a birthday card or note, Donna kept relationships fresh. She was everyone’s go-to person. She personified the adage, “To have a friend you must be one.” She kept everyone laughing with her humorous stories.
Donna was preceded in death by her parents, her uncle Richard, and her niece Alissa. She is survived by her husband; her brothers David, Stephen (Coleen), Timothy (Kari), and Richard (Alice); her aunt Charline and her partner, Gary; her sister-in-law, Brenda, and many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
A celebration of life service will be held for Donna at 1 p.m. on Friday, August 25, 2023, at Kessler Park United Methodist Church, 1215 Turner Ave., Dallas, Texas 75208.
Memorials to Donna may be directed toward one of the following organizations she particularly
favored:
Doctors without Borders, www.doctorswithoutborders.org
Los Barrios Unidos Community Clinic, www.losbarriosunidos.org
The Nurse-Family Partnership, www.nursefamilypartnership.org
Tribute Wall of Donna Alice Short McBride
Mrs. McBride made history come alive in a way I’d never heard taught before. Anything I know about Charlemagne or the Holy Roman Empire started with her. Looking back, it was clear that she taught knowing there were kids in her class who were as fascinated by history as she was.
My deepest condolences to the family.
I look forward to unraveling the tapestry with you Dr. McBride!
Todd Williams
TCA ’86
Todd Williams
Donna's Teacher
Tuesday September 5, 2023
One of my favorite teachers
Mrs. McBride made history come alive in a way I'd never heard taught before. Anything I know about Charlemagne or the Holy Roman Empire started with her. Looking back, it was clear that she taught knowing there were kids in her class who were as fascinated by history as she was.
My deepest condolences to the family.
I look forward to unraveling the tapestry with you Dr. McBride!
Todd Williams
TCA '86
A beautiful woman and friend. She was so kind to me as a colleague, offering wisdom and encouragement, and always ringing in autumn with pumpkin spice muffins. Praying comfort over her family as they grieve the loss of such a treasured woman.
Anonymous
Friday August 18, 2023
A beautiful woman and friend. She was so kind to me as a colleague, offering wisdom and encouragement, and always ringing in autumn with pumpkin spice muffins. Praying comfort over her family as they grieve the loss of such a treasured woman.
Dr. McBride was one of my all-time favorite teachers. Back in 2004, she taught me to be curious about history and always to keep learning. I still remember the glint in her eye when she would teach us about something really fascinating. I cannot believe she is gone. She was a light to all her students and will be greatly missed.
Sincerely,
Lara Bailey
Anonymous
Thursday August 17, 2023
Dr. McBride was one of my all-time favorite teachers. Back in 2004, she taught me to be curious about history and always to keep learning. I still remember the glint in her eye when she would teach us about something really fascinating. I cannot believe she is gone. She was a light to all her students and will be greatly missed.
Sincerely,
Lara Bailey
The Brownings were so thankful that she taught junior History/English to our daughter, and the performing arts department found her at all concerts and performances, making sure that she expressed her delight and support for the students and their teachers. Her influence continues to bless others’ lives.
Norma Browning
Donna's Colleague
Tuesday August 8, 2023
Educational Cheerleader
The Brownings were so thankful that she taught junior History/English to our daughter, and the performing arts department found her at all concerts and performances, making sure that she expressed her delight and support for the students and their teachers. Her influence continues to bless others' lives.
I had Donna for history years ago (before history English at TCA). I am not a big fan of history, but Donna was the first person that ever made history come alive for me. I had great appreciation and respect for her.
Joanna Hayden
Donna's former student
Monday August 7, 2023
History
I had Donna for history years ago (before history English at TCA). I am not a big fan of history, but Donna was the first person that ever made history come alive for me. I had great appreciation and respect for her.
History/English with Dr McBride was one of the highlight academic experiences of my life. Her wit, joy in learning, mastery of the subject, interest in exploring complexity, and constant humor made everyday an adventure.
A few weeks ago, my husband and I hosted a “Poetry and Pie” night in our home, and I thought fondly of first encountering Hopkins poetry in her class. Remembering her winsome encouragement to wade through “the blubber chapters” of Moby Dick carried me through many a blubber chapter of other works as I researched and wrote my dissertation many years later. A few classmates and I enjoyed lunch with her in 2014 just prior to her retirement- a true joy to be able to tell her how much her teaching had meant to me.
Praying comfort for each person who will be missing her, even as her joy is made complete in Christ. I like to think that she is enjoying the company of so many saints she studied and admired.
Robin (Floch) Turner, TCA ‘07
Donna's Student
Sunday August 6, 2023
From a Student
History/English with Dr McBride was one of the highlight academic experiences of my life. Her wit, joy in learning, mastery of the subject, interest in exploring complexity, and constant humor made everyday an adventure.
A few weeks ago, my husband and I hosted a “Poetry and Pie” night in our home, and I thought fondly of first encountering Hopkins poetry in her class. Remembering her winsome encouragement to wade through “the blubber chapters” of Moby Dick carried me through many a blubber chapter of other works as I researched and wrote my dissertation many years later. A few classmates and I enjoyed lunch with her in 2014 just prior to her retirement- a true joy to be able to tell her how much her teaching had meant to me.
Praying comfort for each person who will be missing her, even as her joy is made complete in Christ. I like to think that she is enjoying the company of so many saints she studied and admired.
I have very fond memories of Donna from elementary school all the way through high school. May her memory be a blessing.
Larry Guzick
Donna's Classmate
Saturday August 5, 2023
Donna
I have very fond memories of Donna from elementary school all the way through high school. May her memory be a blessing.
Donna was my teacher and then became my colleague at TCA. Loved her heart for students and Jesus. Thinking and praying for your family during this time.
Robin Rice
Donna's Colleague
Saturday August 5, 2023
Donna
Donna was my teacher and then became my colleague at TCA. Loved her heart for students and Jesus. Thinking and praying for your family during this time.
“Hola, Luisa. Que tal?” always reminds me of Mrs. McBride. R.I.P.
Jennifer
Donna's Student
Saturday August 5, 2023
Spanish
"Hola, Luisa. Que tal?" always reminds me of Mrs. McBride. R.I.P.
My heartfelt sympathies to Donna’s family and friends. She was a bright light and a phenomenal person.
Theda Adams
Donna's Friend
Saturday August 5, 2023
My sympathies
My heartfelt sympathies to Donna's family and friends. She was a bright light and a phenomenal person.
We will miss you Aunt Donna. You always made us laugh and smile and never forgot a birthday or anniversary. We’ll always remember that. Thank you for welcoming me into the family with open arms. Uncle Phil, we love you and are thinking of you daily. Elisha, Dave, Lucy & Macy
Elisha Hamburger
Donna's Family Member
Saturday August 5, 2023
Missed by our family
We will miss you Aunt Donna. You always made us laugh and smile and never forgot a birthday or anniversary. We’ll always remember that. Thank you for welcoming me into the family with open arms. Uncle Phil, we love you and are thinking of you daily. Elisha, Dave, Lucy & Macy