Mark A. MacKay

MARK A. MACKAY

Age 46, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, formerly of Forest Hills, PA. He passed away suddenly after years of battling with severe dermatomyositis. He was a graduate of Central Catholic High School and Denison University. It was during his college years that Mark’s passion for supporting the environment and its creatures began.  After college Mark spent two years in Botswana, Africa in the Peace Corps and later earned a Master’s degree at the University of Missouri. For the past 17 years he worked for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources in various roles.

The love of the outdoors was not only evident in Mark’s academic and professional pursuits but in his daily life as well.  Whether it was traveling to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan or the Florida Everglades, Mark loved to explore nature’s vast beauty.  He could often be found kayaking, skiing, or on long hikes with loved ones and his dogs. Mark coupled his love of the outdoors with his passion for photography, and leaves behind thousands of photos of the places he traveled and the people he has met along the way. Another important influence in his life was music. He loved listening to live music and sharing his vast collection of songs with others. It was not uncommon to be greeted by Mark with gifts of CDs mixed with his favorite genres in hand.

His perpetual selflessness and kindhearted spirit are just two of the many great qualities of Mark’s personality. He always put others before himself, and cared much more about his friends, family and planet than any material item. Mark lived for the moment and made sure those moments were unforgettable for all involved. Mark’s adventures with his nieces and nephews were as elaborate as trips through the Rocky Mountains or as spontaneous as a barrel roll contest down a hillside at Conneaut Lake. The consistent theme being the joy Mark brought for all those participating. An influence that will so greatly be missed for all that knew him.

Mark is survived by his parents, Ruth and Neil MacKay of Forest Hills, loving fiancé Deborah Marcero of Kalamazoo, Michigan, brothers Scott (Jamie) MacKay, Doug (Jennifer) MacKay, and sister Amy (John) Larsen, including eight nieces and nephews, as well as many aunts, uncles and cousins. Friends will be received on Friday from 6-8 p.m. and Saturday from 12-2 p.m. at Wolfe Memorial, Inc 3604 Greensburg Pike, Pittsburgh, PA 15221. Please join us for a celebration of Mark’s life at The Fox Chapel Racquet Club at 3 o’clock on Saturday. Donations may be made to a conservancy organization of your choice or to The Myositis Association at myositis.org