Alastair MacKenzie

Alastair MacKenzie was born on July 22, 1928. He passed away peacefully on September 19, 2018 with his family at his side. He had a wonderful life and he married the love of his life, Anne Page MacKenzie on November 28, 1953.

He is survived by his black lab, Scotty, daughter Patricia, son Cameron, grandchildren Katelyn and Kevin and great grandson Dennis.

He worked for 33 years in the Department of Electrical Engineering at UBC and spent as much of his free time as possible outdoors.

Al will live on in the hearts of his family and many friends remembering how he helped others, built stuff, hunted, fished, trained his champion dogs, and enjoyed a wee dram.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MeM.com for the MacKenzie family.

Welcome everyone. I am Cameron MacKenzie, Alastair’s son.

You might notice that I have two scotch glasses up here. Dad taught me to never fly on one wing. Cheers everyone!

I’d like to read you a lovely card from Pat & Lee Harding

“A wonderful friend, a forever friend for us. Al loved to celebrate life!” And certainly, that is what he would want us to do today!

I would like to introduce the piper, John Ralston. It is fitting for John to be here as I remember dad walking the streets in North Vancouver playing the bagpipes. I’m sure some of you also remember dad playing the pipes at Electrical Engineering functions.

Please help yourself to refreshments, while John plays a couple of more Scottish melodies and then we will have a few speakers and a slide show remembering dad.

John, thank you for playing those inspiring melodies.

I’m sure many of you remember Charlie’s Angels. Today with us are Al’s Angels. They are Emelita, Nymce and Maria. Because of their professional care and loving relationships, dad lived the fullest life he could have possibly lived to the very end. He was the king of his castle and respectfully called the shots until his very last breath. The efforts of Emily, Nymce and Maria kept dad happy and healthy as long as possible. Emily, Nymce and Maria – thank you from the bottom of all of our hearts.

Also, thank you Marian for your immeasurable support as you continuously helped both mom and dad at a moment’s notice for years and years. You did an amazing job. I can’t thank you enough for all that you did for them.

Dad was born, July 22, 1928 in Rosemarkie, Scotland. He grew up in Gordon Cottage, a small house that was so close to the North Sea that on stormy days, at high tide, the ocean spray would hit the windows. His mother, Jessie, spoiled him as he was the youngest of four boys and he really struggled with asthma. His mom, wrote to Anne, his wife, and said, “Be hard on Al as he has been spoiled too much!”

Dad’s three brothers went to war and all survived. Dad was too young to enlist; however, he made his contribution. He stole his uncle’s shotgun off the mantel and quickly learned to be a great shot. He became an expert poacher and he brought home ducks, pheasants, pigeons, deer and rabbits. His game bag was gratefully received by his parents and neighbours as meat was hard to come by during the war. When we went to Rosemarkie in 1995 some of the older locals knew who we were and remembered dad’s contribution.

After high school dad went to Stowe college in Glasgow and got his electrician’s papers. From there he joined the British Merchant Marine. He sailed to Hong Kong, the Philippines, Europe and Canada.

On one trip up the St. Lawrence he befriended a harbor policeman in Saint John. The policeman said, “The next time you are in Port we will go out. I know a place where there are four sisters and we can take a couple of them out.” Sure enough, on the next trip the two of them went to see the four sisters and dad said, “I pick Anne and that was it”.

Dad and mom first lived in an apartment in the West End. One night, dad saw a ladder go up against their window. He said “Anne, don’t move.” He snuck around to the edge of the window, grabbed the top of the ladder and pushed it back hard and sent the Peeping Tom flying. He made friends with the apartment manager as everyone was freezing because the manager couldn’t get the boiler going. Dad solved the problem - as he did throughout his life.

With dad, being new to Canada, and mom, growing up with her Aunt in New Brunswick, it meant that they started out their life in Vancouver with nothing. They did the best they could without a lot of money. If dad could make it or build it, he did. He made a replica of a raise and lower Alaskan camper and called it MACSLASKAN. He installed a direct drive winch on his truck and built and installed the bumpers. He built their first coffee table and side tables and lamps. In 1986 he finished the basement to make a bedroom and bathroom for his older brother’s and wife’s visit. While putting drywall on the ceiling by himself he said, “This is my helper Jake”, pointing to a 2x4 with a small flat piece of plywood on top. He used that to hold up one end of the drywall while he secured the other. I could have been more helpful.

Al and Anne moved to West 16th Avenue and subsequently to North Vancouver. There they met Al Stringer and the Robinson family. Dad had countless outdoor adventures with them. I’m sure dad was over the moon with all the hunting and fishing he had access to at his father-in-law’s farm in Alberta as well as throughout BC.

Dad worked at Burrard Dry Dock and subsequently at UBC in Electrical Engineering for 33 years. He was popular with both the students and the professors. The students made him honorary president of the Engineering Undergraduate society. The professors came to him to get their sourcing and drafting problems resolved. He was running the show quite well. One day the head of electrical engineering came down to the basement to explain to Al that he was head of Electrical Engineering, not Al.

Dad was ahead of his time – he was an environmental entrepreneur. He and his hunting pal, Burt Hampton would empty oil tanks throughout Vancouver and help solve an oil removal problem for those wanting to convert to natural gas. Not wanting to waste the oil, they would fill their own oil tanks, fill the local church, and provide oil for a few of those in need. Some of the oil even fueled their diesel truck on their hunting trips.

Dad adventured throughout his life – his Seaman’s Record Book is over at the side table. The first record is April 21, 1950 with the Empress of Scotland. His last record during that period was April 21, 1954 with the Mapledell. Interestingly in 1978 he met one of his old sea mates who asked him to return to sea. So, there was one final entry, July 1978, where he served on the Princess Patricia’s final two tours up to Alaska. The beauty about the Princess Patricia was that it was a smaller vessel and could get really close to the glaciers – something that the current cruise ships are unable to do.

Dad loved to hike into Garibaldi Lake, fish in Drift Wood bay and climb the Black Tusk. He loved the years he skied at Whistler. He loved to go hunting on the Stuart River and he loved to go to the family farm in Alberta and hunt with his brother-in-law. Dad was truly an adventurer - from early hunting days in the Fairy Glen in Scotland, to his days at sea, to building a new life in Canada all which culminated in adventuring everywhere he could to compete at dog trails.

His adventures are not going to end – if you ski down Burnt Stew trail at Whistler, if you climb to the top of the Black Tusk, if you go down to Drift Wood bay, if you put your boat out on the Stuart River, if you go to Stan and Tracy’s farm or if you go to the beach in front of Gordon Cottage in Rosemarkie, you will find his spirit there.

Please raise your glass to Al!

Patricia Zylstra

My dad, Alastair MacKenzie, was larger than life. His mission in life was to help his family and friends. He supported his family anyway he could. When my mom, Granny, was growing up in St. John, New Brunswick, she had to forego post-secondary education as she could not financially afford it. Dad supported mom to go to UBC when she was in her forties where she majored in English Literature and was able to pursue her dream of getting a University Education and becoming a High School English Teacher. When I was a young adult and struggling with depression dad bought me a golden retriever puppy that changed my life. I named her Candy. My dad always wanted the best for his children. He wanted us to have the advantages that he never had. Dad encouraged me through many ups and downs to finish my University Education and eventually become an Elementary School Teacher. He was extremely proud of my brother Cam’s and my achievements.

Dad’s story-telling and sense of humour were so engaging. He was interested in everyone and everything. He had great emotional intelligence. He always told me he loved me at the end of all our telephone conversations. I had no doubt about that.

I miss him so much. I keep thinking I can pick up the phone and call him, but I can’t. We are all so fortunate that he lived to 90 and saw his first great-grandchild Dennis. My comfort is that he is with mom and Candy, Rosie and Buddy and there is no more suffering. Memories of him will always bring me joy as he was an exceptional person. I love you Dad.

Marian MacKenzie

Hello, and thank you for coming. I am Marian, Cameron’s wife.

I have been very privileged to have Al as my father in law. From our first meeting I was welcomed into his family. I quickly found out that he was a man of integrity, principle, and character.

He was thoughtful, kind, and considerate.

Al loved to talk and could easily spin a tale or two. He had a hearty laugh and an incredible ability to make other people laugh. In 1972 Al and his family were touring London in a double decker bus. Al laughed and a man stood up and said only one person has that laugh and that is Alastair MacKenzie.

Al spent a great deal of time helping others in need, whether family, friends or strangers.

After Al retired, he would come by most days after training his dogs for a cup of tea or a dram of scotch.

I am grateful for the time we spent together.

I have 2 short stories that I feel speak to the essence and character of Al.

In 1996, Cam, myself, Katelyn and Kevin spent a week in Rosemarkie, the village in Scotland where Al grew up. One day Cam and I walked the high street and went into the butcher shop, one of only 2 or 3 shops in the village. The butcher warmly welcomed us, and asked us what brought us to Rosemarkie. Cam replied that his father, Alastair MacKenzie grew up there. The Butcher responded by saying that to this day Al was considered a hero in the village. He went on to explain that during the war, when Al was a young teenager, he would go out hunting each day after school. It did not matter whether Al got a rabbit or a deer, he would bring it back to the village and share it among all the families whose husbands and fathers had gone off to war. For some that was the only meat that they had during those hard times. Al had left his mark.

About a year or so later it was one of those rare, cold, snowy days in Vancouver where there were several feet of snow and people were advised not to drive. Kevin, Katelyn and myself returned from tobogganing at their school. We walked into the house to the sound of running water. Quickly finding out that there was a broken pipe in the basement and not knowing what to do, I called Al. His words were simply, ‘I’m on my way.” He filled the back of his station wagon with some cement sacks for traction and his tool boxes and arrived shortly after the call. Al fixed the pipes, and we spent a number of hours mopping up, pulling up carpets, and setting up heaters. That was neither the first nor the last time he would come over to help me.

We will miss Al tremendously. As his childhood friend Norman Malcolm said upon hearing of Al’s passing, “Al was a legend.”

Katelyn Lundin

I am Katelyn and Al MacKenzie was my Gramps. Thank you all for being here today, I know my Gramps would be overwhelmed with disbelief and joy to see all you coming together today in his honour.

Gramps has always been an important person in my life and we had a very special relationship I will cherish forever. He was a part of all my major moments growing up, every single Christmas at his house, my university graduation, he fought to be there for my marriage to Adam and the birth of his great grandson, Dennis. Until you reach a certain age it is hard to really recognize how much a grandparent cares for you. It has only been in the past few years that I was able to truly understand and appreciate how much he loved my brother and I and how much he did for us, others and the integrity he had.

In the past few years he has spent a lot of time rebounding from hospital stays. I know every visit I made to the hospital was with the intention of brightening up his day, and every time I left the hospital after a visit with gramps no matter what shape he was in, he was the one that brightened up my day. He had a unique talent to make everyone smile and bring humour to a challenging situation, his laugh alone was contagious.

Gramps was the most selfless person I know. Gramps adored his family and friends and especially his ladies, Lanie, Emily, Nymce and Maria. He took sincere interest in everyone’s life, remembered every important date and always put others feelings first.

He would do anything at the drop of a hat for anyone in need never seeking recognition. He was well known in his neighborhood for being the reliable friendly neighbor who could fix a broken pipe, help with yard work, chat about current events, or keep a widow company. He had so many ladies in the neighborhood baking for him there was always sure to be good treats at gramps’ house. I would still receive thank you’s from Gramps for a Christmas gift I had given him years ago, he was just that type of man.

He never spoke a poor word about anyone, he never complained even through what would have been an excruciating experience with Parkinson’s, he made everyone around him feel special, loved and included, and he always saw the good in every situation. I always admired my Gramps for his integrity, compassion for others and, loyalty to family and his perseverance. I can only hope to become just like him one day.

I am so grateful my husband and son were able to spend such meaningful time with Gramps and I will always be able to tell my son how much his great Gramps loved him and how, even in his weakest moments, he lit up whenever he was in the same room.

Gramps made a tremendous effort on his last day to speak with me and his last words to me were “take care of Adam, take care of Dennis and do not cry” I promise to always take care of Adam and always take care of Dennis and I only cry with tears of joy because I am so happy that I got to have you in my life. I will love you forever gramps.

Kevin MacKenzie

Hello Everyone,

I’m Kevin, Al was my Gramps. I know what you’re all thinking right now, the good looks really do skip a generation.

I want to thank you all for coming out today, it really does mean a lot to us. We decided to begin at 4:00 because we want this to be a celebration and coincidentally, 4pm has been the start of happy hour with Gramps’ for the last number of years. Not many people are lucky enough to know their grandparents. I had the honour and privilege of not only knowing gramps for this long, but also being able to call him my best friend and my landlord. He was the most determined person I know, bouncing back from several hospital visits in the last couple years, not complaining once, and making it to his 90th Birthday Party with his great grandson and putting on quite a good show. I want to thank Emily, Nymce and Maria, and of course Lanie for not only taking such good care of him over the last while, but also for each being such a good friend to him. I want to thank Dad for doing everything he could to keep Gramps in his home, and orchestrating all the care that was needed. I know it had its challenges, but you couldn’t have done a better job, so thank you.

I know you all have some great stories with Gramps, and I hope to hear as many as I can today, whatever they are, from hunting and fishing adventures, to him just being a neighbour.

I want to share a couple stories I have from my time with Gramps that I think embody who he was.

As you all know, Gramps was a gifted storyteller. A fun story that I remember hearing was from his sailing days with the Merchant Marines. The boys on the ship were getting excited to get back to shore and see their girls. They all wanted to look good, and everyone needed a haircut after being at sea for so long. Gramps jumped at the opportunity to have some fun, and convinced them he had experience cutting hair. Not too long after he started, he had a few guys on the ship with silly haircuts chasing him around. Years down the road, his barbering skills translated into the bowl cuts dad and I were both known for as kids growing up.

Another favourite story of mine that Gramps liked to tell, was an occasion when he was out drinking with his buddies one night. On the way home, he had them pull up quietly across the street from his house. He took off his shoes, and stumbled across the road and up the stairs in his socks, trying to sneak in so he didn’t get in trouble for a late night out with the boys. Before he could open the door, it swung open, and there was Grannie, with a disappointed look on her face, and she throws him into bed.

One I will always remember, was the day Kim and I moved in with him about five years ago. We were unpacking my bags in the basement, and Gramps slowly walks down. He hands us a roll of toilet paper as a peace offering, slowly brings a chair into the room, sits down, and proceeds to tell us the story of when he and Grannie first moved in together. He told us how they didn’t have much money at the time, and found an old apartment close to Lost Lagoon in the west end of Vancouver. He told the story of when they moved in together, the building didn’t have hot water. Gramps was friendly enough with the manager, and convinced him to let him look at the boiler. Not long after, Gramps brought hot water back to the building. I’ve heard that story before, but this time it meant something a little different.

A couple days before Gramps passed, I had a few minutes alone with him, and I used it as my chance to thank him for everything he had done for me. He was my best friend, and without his help, I wouldn’t have had the start I had to life that I did. I thanked him for letting us live in his basement, and let him know I absolutely loved doing it, and never got along living with anyone so well. He thanked me and responded with the following: “Everybody needs to start somewhere. No matter how small. It’s amazing how you can improvise.”

Gramps has been improvising his whole life, doing what he can with what he had, and he has done an amazing job at it. Among other things, he added a section to his house, and he made use of the UBC facilities when building his camper, the MACSLASKAN.

I have some great memories of Gramps hunting, and fishing as well as driving him out to his last dog trial in Prince George. Before I ask you all to share some of your stories, I would like to read the introduction to his two hunting diaries which span from 1964 to 2006:

“Al MacKenzie’s Hunting & Fishing Diary & Illegal information about trips taken with all weird outdoor types, they are a special breed by themselves and easily identified by one of their own kind.

This book should only fall in the worthy hands of a real outdoors man.”

Gramps was the epitome of what the show Red Green based its parodies off of. The do-it yourself, improvise, and have fun type guy, that is everybody’s best friend, because he lets you know that we’re all in this together.

With that, I would like to pass off the microphone to any of you who would like to share some of your stories with Gramps.

* * * * * * * * * *

Alastair MacKenzie was born on July 22, 1928. He passed away peacefully on September 19, 2018 with his family at his side. He had a wonderful life and he married the love of his life, Anne Page MacKenzie on November 28, 1953.

He is survived by his black lab, Scotty, daughter Patricia, son Cameron, grandchildren Katelyn and Kevin and great grandson Dennis.

He worked for 33 years in the Department of Electrical Engineering at UBC and spent as much of his free time as possible outdoors.

Al will live on in the hearts of his family and many friends remembering how he helped others, built stuff, hunted, fished, trained his champion dogs, and enjoyed a wee dram.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MeM.com for the MacKenzie family.