Erwin Herman Mack

Erwin Mack, age 91, was born on November 4, 1931, in Brooklyn, New York. He and his sister, Helen, grew up in a home with German parents, so he was fluent in the language. It would come to serve him later when, in the Army during the Korean War, he was sent to Germany as a medic. He also spent most of his time as a secretary for the Company Commander and acted as a translator. Erwin met Sylvia while both attended the same school in Massachusetts. But it wasn't until he returned home from Germany that they reconnected, married and moved to California. He worked at the Lockheed Aircraft Company as a master aircraft painter to help pay his way through college. He became a teacher and later a principal in multiple Seventh-day Adventist schools. After a 20-year career in education, Erwin took a job in purchasing at the SDA church world headquarters in Takoma Park, MD. After that, he bought a mattress store in Langley Park, MD, and became involved in the local business community.

Erwin became president of the Takoma Langley Crossroads Business Association, actively working to make the busy crossroads safer for pedestrians. He volunteered on committees for the City of Takoma Park and Montgomery County, MD. He was a member of Sligo SDA Church for 45 years, served as a head elder and was a board member of Adventist Community Services. Upon retirement, Erwin took the woodworking skills learned from his father and made wooden toys. But the highlight of his retirement years was his involvement in the Ford Model T community. Erwin owned five Model T's, including a 1909 Model T that appeared at the U. S. Capitol at the request of Ford Motor Company, and was filmed for a segment on CBS Sunday Morning with Jay Leno driving Ted Koppel around Washington, DC, in the car. He also drove his 1909 T annually in the Takoma Park Independence Day Parade and appeared with it in at least one movie. Erwin served as president of the Nation's Capital Model T Ford Club from 2012-2020. He and Sylvia enjoyed their Model T driving tours through numerous states with fellow Model T friends and enthusiasts.

Erwin is survived by Sylvia, his spouse of almost 69 years, and four children: William Mack, working as a missionary in India, soon moving stateside to Chattanooga, TN; Denise Lee in Loma Linda, CA; Larry Mack in Thailand; and Keith Mack in Highland, MD. He has seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

A celebration of life for Erwin Mack will be held on June 17, 2023, at 4:00 pm.

Live stream will be available, please use the "Join Livestream" option below in the Services section.

Sligo Seventh-day Adventist Church

7700 Carroll Ave.

Takoma Park, MD 20912

Please RSVP to this link [email protected]