1926
Roderick
2012
Roderick J. Mackenzie
July 4, 1926 — December 28, 2012
STERLING – Roderick J. MacKenzie, Jr., 86, of Clinton Road, passed peacefully under the loving care of his family, devoted companions and the staff at Oakdale Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center on Friday, December 28, 2012. His beloved wife and best friend of 61 years, Mary E. (Golden) MacKenzie passed at the age of 85 on September 20th of this year. Born in Boston on the 4th of July, 1926, Rod was the son of Roderick John and Margaret (Sullivan) MacKenzie and was raised in Jamaica Plain.
Upon his graduation from Mechanical Arts High School in Boston, Rod enlisted in the United States Navy at the age of 17 where he proudly served aboard the USS Chicago (CA-136), a Baltimore Class - Heavy Cruiser during World War II in the Asiatic Pacific Theatre. After returning home from the service, he followed his dream of pursuing a career in the arts and enrolled at Massachusetts College of Art in Boston. While in college Rod met the love of his life, Mary E. Golden and the two wed on June 9, 1951. Together they moved to Clinton where Rod accepted a teaching position as a traveling elementary art teacher and later taught art for over 20 years at Clinton High School where he was affectionately known as “Mack” by his students. After living in Clinton for ten years they moved to Sterling where they raised their five daughters and lived for over 50 years.
Rod was known as an expert and collector of Daguerreotypes, American history, particularly the Civil War and military memorabilia including antique firearms, Norton Stoneware and Abraham Lincoln. He put his expertise to work and was hired by Skinner Auctioneers and Appraisers. His fields of expertise included ephemera, photography and military items. As a collector, Rod’s spare time was enjoyably spent in antique shops, auction galleries and flea markets. Rod and Mary operated an antiques shop in Sterling called the “Sign of the Thistle” which was a destination for friends and collectors.
Passionate about the Civil War and Abraham Lincoln, Rod enjoyed being an active participant in Civil War reenactments joining the 9th Battery, Massachusetts Volunteer Light Artillery. He also enjoyed poetry, music especially the Boston Pops, and nature which lead him to conduct guided bird watching tours for the Massachusetts Audubon Society. He was a member of St. Richard of Chichester Church in Sterling.
Rod’s collections were filled with items and images that spoke to him and his family emotionally, historically and artistically. Each item he found spoke quietly to him of its past. He had so many passions in his life but first and foremost was his devotion to his loving wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchild who will remember him in their hearts for his wisdom, unconditional love, and zest for life.
He is survived and will be greatly missed by his five daughters, Sister Carol A. MacKenzie of the Daughters of the Charity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Littleton, NH, Janet L. Burzenski and her husband Ron of Boylston, Diana M. Kaczmarek and her husband Gary of Jefferson, Lorraine MacKenzie of Rochester, NH and Christine Lukasevicz and her husband Ron of Grafton; eight grandchildren, Travis, Brian, Andrew, David, Jeffrey, Alanna, Nicholas, and Samantha; a great-grandson, David; many nephews and nieces. Besides his wife Mary, Rod is predeceased by his son, Kenny who passed at the tender age of two, and two sisters, Margaret Cook and Ethel Pionkowski.
Relatives and friends are invited to honor and remember Rod’s life by attending calling hours from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on Thursday, January 3, at the Miles-Sterling Funeral and Tribute Center, 100 Worcester Road (Rte. 12), Sterling, followed by a procession to St. Richard of Chichester Church, 4 Bridge Street, Sterling for a Mass of Christian Burial being celebrated at 11:30 a.m. Internment will follow with Military Honors at St. John’s Cemetery in Lancaster. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Baystate Chapter, 60 Walnut Street, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481; or to The Daughters of the Charity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, 226 Grove Street, Littleton, NH 03561.
To share a memory or offer a condolence, please "Sign the Guestbook" as shown to the left of this screen.
Upon his graduation from Mechanical Arts High School in Boston, Rod enlisted in the United States Navy at the age of 17 where he proudly served aboard the USS Chicago (CA-136), a Baltimore Class - Heavy Cruiser during World War II in the Asiatic Pacific Theatre. After returning home from the service, he followed his dream of pursuing a career in the arts and enrolled at Massachusetts College of Art in Boston. While in college Rod met the love of his life, Mary E. Golden and the two wed on June 9, 1951. Together they moved to Clinton where Rod accepted a teaching position as a traveling elementary art teacher and later taught art for over 20 years at Clinton High School where he was affectionately known as “Mack” by his students. After living in Clinton for ten years they moved to Sterling where they raised their five daughters and lived for over 50 years.
Rod was known as an expert and collector of Daguerreotypes, American history, particularly the Civil War and military memorabilia including antique firearms, Norton Stoneware and Abraham Lincoln. He put his expertise to work and was hired by Skinner Auctioneers and Appraisers. His fields of expertise included ephemera, photography and military items. As a collector, Rod’s spare time was enjoyably spent in antique shops, auction galleries and flea markets. Rod and Mary operated an antiques shop in Sterling called the “Sign of the Thistle” which was a destination for friends and collectors.
Passionate about the Civil War and Abraham Lincoln, Rod enjoyed being an active participant in Civil War reenactments joining the 9th Battery, Massachusetts Volunteer Light Artillery. He also enjoyed poetry, music especially the Boston Pops, and nature which lead him to conduct guided bird watching tours for the Massachusetts Audubon Society. He was a member of St. Richard of Chichester Church in Sterling.
Rod’s collections were filled with items and images that spoke to him and his family emotionally, historically and artistically. Each item he found spoke quietly to him of its past. He had so many passions in his life but first and foremost was his devotion to his loving wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchild who will remember him in their hearts for his wisdom, unconditional love, and zest for life.
He is survived and will be greatly missed by his five daughters, Sister Carol A. MacKenzie of the Daughters of the Charity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Littleton, NH, Janet L. Burzenski and her husband Ron of Boylston, Diana M. Kaczmarek and her husband Gary of Jefferson, Lorraine MacKenzie of Rochester, NH and Christine Lukasevicz and her husband Ron of Grafton; eight grandchildren, Travis, Brian, Andrew, David, Jeffrey, Alanna, Nicholas, and Samantha; a great-grandson, David; many nephews and nieces. Besides his wife Mary, Rod is predeceased by his son, Kenny who passed at the tender age of two, and two sisters, Margaret Cook and Ethel Pionkowski.
Relatives and friends are invited to honor and remember Rod’s life by attending calling hours from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on Thursday, January 3, at the Miles-Sterling Funeral and Tribute Center, 100 Worcester Road (Rte. 12), Sterling, followed by a procession to St. Richard of Chichester Church, 4 Bridge Street, Sterling for a Mass of Christian Burial being celebrated at 11:30 a.m. Internment will follow with Military Honors at St. John’s Cemetery in Lancaster. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Baystate Chapter, 60 Walnut Street, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481; or to The Daughters of the Charity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, 226 Grove Street, Littleton, NH 03561.
To share a memory or offer a condolence, please "Sign the Guestbook" as shown to the left of this screen.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Roderick J. Mackenzie, please visit our flower store.
Guestbook
Visits: 0
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors