Maurice ''Mac'' E. 'Mac' McAllister's Obituary
Maurice E. “Mac” McAllister, 85, passed away at home in DeBary on Thursday, July 14, 2016 following a lengthy illness.
He is survived by his loving wife of nearly 60 years, Peggy Ann Simmons McAllister; daughter Dianne McAllister Atkinson and son-in-law John Atkinson of DeBary; son Gary McAllister of Orange City; brother and sister-in-law Robert and Bea Simmons of Saugus, Massachusetts; five grandchildren including Sergeant First Class Brent Atkinson, USArmy, of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington; Caroline Atkinson of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Airman First Class Scott Atkinson of Luke Air Force Base, Arizona; and two great-grandchildren. Son Robert McAllister preceded him in passing.
Mac was born in Brooks, Maine and spent his early life in Boston, Massachusetts. He entered the US Army following high school graduation and was a veteran of the Korean War. He became one of the very first soldiers to complete the highly rigorous USArmy Ranger Training School. Following Army service, he graduated from the University of Bridgeport, where he played football. He began is teaching career in Chester, Vermont, and taught sixth grade and coached basketball in the Hartford, Connecticut school system for twenty five years. Many of his former students have stayed in touch with him, a tribute to his positive impact on their lives.
Upon retirement from teaching, Mac and Peg relocated to DeBary, Florida and he spent many years as the athletic equipment manager at Stetson University in DeLand. A very popular figure around Stetson’s Edmunds Center, Mac mentored and supported hundreds of Stetson athletes through the years. He also served as a contributor and consultant to an extensive, long term Harvard University study on health and aging. A firm, loving and fair father, teacher and coach, Mac thoroughly enjoyed singing, athletic coaching, and spending his summers in the mountains of western Massachusetts.
Mac was particularly proud of his grandchildren. He inspired grandsons Brent and Scott to pursue military service and granddaughter Caroline to a career in education.
A memorial service will be conducted on Wednesday, July 27th at 6:30pm in the chapel at Baldauff Funeral Home on Saxon Boulevard in Orange City. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to VITAS Healthcare (Volusia Hospice) or to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Disease Research.
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