Martin "Mac" Magruder Whitfield

Martin “Mac” Magruder Whitfield, age 77, died Saturday, September 8, 2018. Mac was born on June 3, 1941, the youngest son of Katherine Daniell Magruder and Robert Whitfield, at New Orleans Baptist Hospital. At an early age, the family, including Robert Whitfield, Jr., “Bob”, Mac’s brother, and Katherine Whitfield McCarty or “Kay”, Mac’s sister, moved to St. Louis Missouri, where Mac eventually attended and graduated from “Mizzou” with a Bachelor’s in History. Mac was drafted into the U.S. Army where he served one tour of duty in Vietnam (1963 – 1965). While on patrol one day their boat was attacked by the Vietcong and both Mac and his buddy were wounded. Mac shielded and held his brother in his arms until he died. He could hear Vietcong coming closer and calling out to him in English telling him they would find him. He lowered himself into the water and hid throughout the night, until by dawn’s light, he heard a boat and American voices talking. He emerged and was rescued by his brothers in arms. Mac subsequently received the Purple Heart, the Army’s Commendation Medal, and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. Post Vietnam, Mac lived abroad for 4 years, 2 in Paris and 2 in Madrid, where he learned to speak French and Spanish fluently. He attended and graduated with a Certificate in Teaching from the Sorbonne. Mac loved reading, history, guitar playing, music of all kinds, his beloved pets, multi-year chess, good food, and he was a wonderful Cajun dancer. He was a gentle soul who saw only good in others, did not believe in violence, had a natural, innate integrity and practiced compassion for all living things.

A confirmed bachelor, love’s tender hooks sunk gently and deeply into Mac when he met Maria Dolores. They were married for over 30 years.

List of family and friends: Mac is survived by Maria Dolores; his brother Bob, and a host of beloved cousins including Jane Walman (Tommy), Frank “Pancho” Coleman (Kathy), Mary Pierson (Ronnie), Sam Coleman, Dan Magruder (Ginger), Kate Lambeth (David), Sidoux Mitchell (Steve), Bert Magruder, John Arthur Magruder (Vera), Lynden Langberg (Jon), Dan Magruder (Suzanne who resides in Houston), Helen Menasian (David), Mac Magruder (Cate), and Calley Jones. His steadfast and loyal friend and best man Fletcher Stepspenstein. His beloved sisters and brothers by marriage including Maria Teresa and John McLean, Maria Isabel Medina, Bobby and Maria Lawless, Christina Medina and Carmen Stoyanovich (Drago). His beloved nieces Megan Hodges (Stan) and Kay Whitfield and his beloved nephew Sean McCarty from his side of the family; beloved nieces and nephews from Maria Dolores’ side include, Maria Teresa Blanco (David de Pascal), Elizabeth Egan (John), Manny Blanco, Mark Blanco, James Medina, Genny Hardison (Alex Treviollaty), Nicholas Borkowski, Alexander Borkowski, Amber Toledo (Obie) and many others. The family would like to give thanks to Dwight and Lesley Denham, Yolanda, Nikki, Muriel and his personal caregiver Brenda Populus for the excellent and compassionate care they provided to him.

In lieu of flowers, please forward contributions/donations to one of the following: the Alzheimer’s Association, the Vietnam Veterans Association Slidell Adult Daycare Health Center or the St. Tammany Humane Society.

There will be a private memorial service on Sunday, September 16 at a family member’s home.

The family invites you to share your thoughts, fond memories, and condolences online at www.lakelawnmetairie.com .