Donald Mackay
1926 – 2018
The Society sadly announces the passing of Donald Mackay on 24th November 2018.
Donald Mackay joined the North American Heather Society (NAHS) in 1987. By March of 1988, “Dr. Donald Mackay” was listed on the Heather News masthead as “Northeast Editor” and contributed an article to that issue. Donald served as the northeast regional editor of Heather News in 1988 and 1989. He served as acting editor of the periodical from 1990 through most of 1994 and as the society’s official editor from then until the end of 2002. While he was editor, if not enough articles were submitted to fill an issue, Donald would write his own articles on a diverse assortment of topics having to do in any way, however small, with heathers. During some years, he wrote more than 40 articles.
After passing along the editorial red pen in 2003, Donald Mackay continued to write articles for Heather News. He was its most prolific and dependable author, submitting between two and six articles per year. His last article was published in the November/December 2018 issue of Heather News Electronic.
Donald served as NAHS president from 1990 through 1992 and again in 1999 and 2000. He also served for many years in various offices of its Northeast Heather Society (NEHS) chapter and was vice-president of NEHS at the time of his death. He served as principal author of the NEHS publication A Regional Heather Growing Guide.
Soon after joining the NAHS, Donald became a member of The Heather Society (THS) and remained so until his passing. During that period, Donald corresponded regularly with members of the THS, attended at least two Conferences and contributed articles to the Yearbook of The Heather Society for no fewer than four editions.
Donald leaves a son and two daughters (his wife, Lottie, and a daughter pre-deceased him), nine grandchildren and his longtime companion, Elinor Cohen. The Heather Society extends our sympathy to them.
Ella May T. Wulff