Cover photo for David Bruce MacKay's Obituary
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David Bruce MacKay

May 14, 1958 — March 17, 2016

David Bruce MacKay

            David Bruce MacKay, a great man and wonderful husband, lover, brother, son, father, friend, and mentor, departed this earth early in the morning of March 17, 2016.  He was 57 years old. 

He left a huge gap in the lives of those he left behind—and is a towering example of what a man might be.  Those who knew him well knew and admired his absolute integrity. Behind those twinkling blue eyes, he was a supremely intelligent, piercingly curious, unflappably patient, loving, self-effacing, giving man of strong emotions selectively expressed.

David was born in San Pablo, CA, on May 14, 1958, to Joanne and Bill MacKay.   In 1962 the family moved to Bellingham, where he attended Campus School, Lowell Elementary, Fairhaven Middle School, and Sehome High School, graduating in 1976.  Two years earlier, on February 22, 1974, he met and bonded with his high school sweetheart and life-long companion and love, Aileen McDonnell. 

After high school, David expressed his infinite curiosity about how machines work by graduating from the automotive technology program of Bellingham Technical College.  He started his career in high performance automotive maintenance and repair, segued to high performance marine engine maintenance and repair, quite naturally rising to management positions.  In 2007, David established David B. MacKay, Inc., and launched himself as a marine surveyor.  He plied that profession with notable success until finally surveying his last boat late last year.

Parallel to his professional career, David skillfully renovated two older homes.  Twenty years ago, he significantly contributed to the construction of the lovely family home.  In 2006, along with life-long friends Tom Anastasio and Jim Lockman, and son Glen, David summited Mount Baker at age 48.

David was preceded in death by daughter Lindsy and by his parents Bill and Joanne.  He is survived and deeply mourned by his wife Aileen, his son Glen and wife Hillary, his daughter Kayla, his sister Barbara and her husband Yogi, their daughters Anjuli (David) and Sonia (Chris), by his brother Doug, his wife Mary, their sons Mike and Jon, cousin Paul MacKay and wife Trese, and by all of his and Aileen’s much bereaved extended family.

David has left us.  There was a nobility about him.  So it is right and just to say (with Shakespeare)

 “Good night, sweet prince,

And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.”

Family suggest memorial donations be made to Whatcom Hospice, 2800 Douglas AV, Bellingham, WA 98225.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of David Bruce MacKay, please visit our flower store.

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