Malcolm N. "Mac" MacKenzie

A creative mind and talented hands became still with the passing of Malcolm N. “Mac” MacKenzie 92, of Keene, NH on Sunday, December 24, 2017 at the Cheshire Medical Center/Dartmouth Hitchcock, Keene. He was a resident of Keene since 1946.

Mac’s parents, Robert and Stella (Turner) MacKenzie proudly welcomed their son into the world on February 20, 1925 in West Bridgewater, MA.

At the age of 18, he volunteered for the service in the 10th Mountain Division, training in Colorado prior to combat in the Apennine Mountains in Northern Italy. He was wounded in battle on April 14, 1945 and was the recipient of the Purple Heart and Bronze Star Medal.

He was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans; Veterans of Foreign Wars Keene Post 799; Gordon Bissell American Legion Keene Post #4; the Jerusalem Lodge 104; the New England Ski Museum; and was inducted into the “Hall of Fame” in the Vermont Ski Museum. He was a former treasurer of the Grace Methodist Church in Keene and the Keene Chamber of Commerce. Mac was instrumental in the founding of the Keene Barbershop Chorus now knows as the “Cheshiremen”.

In 1948, he was appointed Director of the first ski School at Mount Sunapee by the manager, David Heald, a position he held until 1950. He later became manager of the Coastal Finance Company. In 1965, he and a partner, Kenneth Cavadini, founded Artcraft Sign Company, specializing in Bank and Shopping Center signage throughout New England. He retired in 1978.

In 1970, MacKenzie became active in the New England Chapter of the National Association of the 10th Mountain Division serving as President for two years, and then elected National President, a position he held for eight years. It was during that period that he conceived the idea of the international mountain organization. Together with General Werner Daumiller, President of the German Gebirgstruppe, they organized the International Federation of Mountain Soldiers. After five years of discussions and debate, the Statutes were signed by representatives of Austria, Germany, France, Italy and the United States, at Mitten Wald, Germany on May 4, 1985.

Mac and his wife, Barbara, were world travelers, making several trips to Europe, England and Scotland. They were also avid skiers and for thirty years, organized and led annual ski trips to Colorado, Utah, Idaho and Montana.

He will be greatly missed by many, especially his wife of 48 years, Barbara A. (Murray) MacKenzie of Keene; his son, James MacKenzie and his wife, Susan, and grandson, Angus and great-granddaughter, Madison, all of Swanton, VT; a sister, Jeanne Nichols of Old Lyme, CT; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother, Kenneth MacKenzie; and a sister, Roberta Philbrick.

At his request, there will be no public calling hours and burial will be private.

For those who wish, donations may be made in Mr. MacKenzie’s memory to the New England Ski Museum, PO Box 267, Franconia, NH 03580; or to the VT Ski Museum, PO Box 1511, Stowe, VT 05672; or to the Cheshire Health Foundation, Support of the Emergency Department, 580 Court Street, Keene, NH 03431.