Around 1980, CDS asked HOVIC, now HOVENSA, for a trailer so we could have a live-in caretaker/security person. Following a lengthy search, former Headmaster Marge Boulanger revealed at a faculty meeting that Mr. Mac had agreed to accept this job. The announcement was met with applause. The teachers knew this was a person who could be counted on.

As Country Day School grew through the years, so did its maintenance needs. Every year Mac had more and more grass to cut, shrubs to prune, leaves to rake, and peacocks with which to contend. Quietly he worked longer and harder, usually on weekends and late afternoons when students were not around.

Mr. Mac also served as the campus watchman. Many people don’t realize Mac knows every teacher’s vehicle, and can sense when something is out of the ordinary. One year, during teacher workshop week, one of the Preschool teachers arrived at school before dawn to prepare. Immediately Mr. Mac hurried over to find out what was wrong, asking, “Is everything alright at home?”

During Hurricane Hugo, Mr. Mac’s trailer was destroyed, but he never left CDS. Instead, he and his family lived in Mrs. Boulanger’s office and the Preschool - without electricity. There was so much work to be done and he felt a sense of duty to do his share in those difficult times.

Mr. Mac was always patient when teachers needed a key or accidentally tripped an alarm. He acted as the campus’s friendly neighbor when one came to his door asking to borrow flour, sugar, or even onions! He never failed to ask how your family was doing, even when he was having his own problems.

The Country Day family will miss Mr. Mac’s work ethic, integrity and dedication. We will miss the familiar site of him sitting in the shade on one of the brown benches, taking a break from mowing. We will miss his dependability in tough times. But most of all we will miss a dear friend. Thank you, Mr. Mac, for all your work to make Country Day School what it is today. We couldn’t have done it without you.