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Peter J. Mack

Peter Mack Obituary

LATHAM Peter J. Mack, of Latham, died at his home on July 30, 2006 after a long illness. Born April 6, 1945, he was the husband of Patricia (Kennedy) Mack. Mr. Mack was a professional engineer completing his undergraduate work at Manhattan College in 1967. He was elected to Tau Beta Phi, the pre-eminent civil engineering honor fraternity, and was awarded the Civil Engineering Gold Medal as the top student in his graduating class. In 1968, he was granted a master's degree in environmental engineering, also from Manhattan College. In 1973, he received a fellowship from the English Speaking Union to reside in England and collaborate in the development of strategies to clean the River Thames. He was employed by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) until his retirement in 2000. He worked for many years in the fields of water quality and water pollution, eventually rising to the position of director of the water quality bureau. For several years prior to his retirement, he was the regional engineer for the northeast region of DEC. He was active in national affairs and most active in the National Water and Environmental Federation (WEF), serving as its president for several years. He had many hobbies including fishing, water sports, darts, furniture restoration, picture framing, and trading in collectibles. He especially loved to spend time with his family at their camp on Sacandaga Lake. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus. He was predeceased by his parents, Frank and Genevieve Mack, and his sister, Marcia (Mack) Johnson. Survivors in addition to his wife include two children, Kimberly Mack (John Bestgen) of Pepperell, Mass. and Daniel (Deborah) Mack of San Francisco, Calif.; his grandchildren, Noah, Chloe and Grace; two brothers, Paul Mack of Guilderland and Frank Mack of Naples, Fla.; several aunts and uncles; and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins. Funeral private at the convenience of the family. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Salvation Army, 222 Lafayette St. Schenectady, NY 12305. Arrangements by the Daly Funeral Home, Inc., 242 McClellan St., Schenectady, NY 12304.

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Published by Albany Times Union on Aug. 2, 2006.

Memories and Condolences
for Peter Mack

23 Entries

Jeff, Dorothy, Madison & Ryan Desroches

August 11, 2006

Dear Mack Family,

We were very sorry to hear about the loss of Mr. Mack, he was a great guy with a wonderful spirit and he will be dearly missed. Our love and thoughts are with you.

John McEnerney

August 5, 2006

Dan, Kim and Mrs. Mack,

I am so sorry for your loss.. I still remember the times we all had at St. Ambrose... it seems like a lifetime ago... My thoughts are with you.

Rosemary Mahoney

August 4, 2006

Paul and Family,

So sorry about the loss of your brother. Much too young a man. Your family and his will be in my prayers.

Jeri Adams

August 4, 2006

For more years than I care to remember, I have been working in the Division of Water. Peter, on the other hand, will be someone I will never forget. He was a great person to work with and was always great fun to be around. I have a special memory of a Division picnic years back. At that particular picnic, we had a karaoke machine. Somehow he convinced me to get up and sing with him. After great debate, we decided to try Sonny and Cher's "I Got You Babe". It was so very hard trying to keep serious faces getting thru that song, acting out our parts as we sang. I still can remember all the whistling and applause when we finally finshed. It was quite a moment.

My thoughts and prayers go out to all of Peter's family and dear friends. He will be truly missed by me as well as all others who had the good fortune of knowing him.

Carl Johnson

August 4, 2006

My thoughts go out to Peter's family. I had the pleasure and privilege of working with Peter for only a short time in Region 4, but they were interesting months and we had a great time. I will never forget (nor will anyone else who was there) the afternoon when some inexplicable drumming noise started up in his office, directly above mine, and then wound its way down the stairs as Peter led a conga line into my office. At the same time, he took his responsiblities as a public servant, manager and mentor very seriously, and put a tremendous amount of thought into his work. He was definitely one of a kind, and I will always treasure the friendship we had.

Peggy (Donohue) Alvaro

August 3, 2006

Dear Patty, Paul and Marty,

I was deeply saddened to read of Pete's passing. I haven't seen him in quite some time, but, suddenly, fond memories of him came flooding back to me of our "younger" days, while living in the same neighborhood in Schenectady. Pete was a great guy! I will always remember him.

Jack and I want to extend our deepest sympathy to you and your family. You are all in our thoughts and prayers. May God bless you and give you strength during this extremely difficult time.

Sincerely,

Hank Samide

August 3, 2006

Patty and Family,

I am so deeply sorry to hear of Pete's passing. I spent approximately a third of my 35 year DEC career working under him. Pete was a wise, gentle and fair man with a great sense of humor. He always had a positive attitude and, no matter how busy he got, was always accessible and was always full of praise for a job well done. My great esteem for him and my many wonderful memories of him will remain with me for the rest of my days. Please take comfort in the fact that Pete truly made a difference.

Sincerely,

Libby Smith-Holmes

August 2, 2006

It was a pleasure to work with Peter at DEC - we always knew he would give us the straight story when we went to him for information for an article or report. I will miss him - my condolences to his family.

Jake Nolan & Family

August 2, 2006

Patty & Family

I was so sorry to hear of Peters death. It only seemed like yesterday I met the two of you walking. I know what you are going through. If I can help in any way please call me.

Judy Moore

August 2, 2006

Dear Patty and family,

I am wishing you and your family peace as Peter completes his journey to health, no pain and a better place. It has been a long path for all of you as I know only too well.

Peter's humor and interests enriched our lives and his professionalism with Grady was greatly appreciated. Remember those wonderful things and let them bring you peace.

Much love, Judy Moore

Doug Clark

August 2, 2006

My deepest sympathies to Pete's family. In addition to Pete being one of the more competent directors at DEC, I remember him most for his great sense of humor - a rare combination!

Michele Rossi

August 2, 2006

I always looked forward to seeing Peter in the yard when I walked Sawyer or walking the neighborhood in the morning as I left for work. He always had plesant words for both of us. I am so very sorry for your loss.

Michele Rossi

August 2, 2006

Joanne Swint

August 2, 2006

My deepest sympathy goes out to Peter's family and friends. He was a wonderful person to work with always bringing a smile or laugh to your day.When he appreciated something that you did he was never afraid to tell you so. I will miss seeing him walk around the neighborhood. He will be missed by many. Remember the laughs and happy times and find peace that he is in a better place.

With God's Blessings,

Joanne Swint

Latham, New York

Bob Hennigan

August 2, 2006

Dear Patty and Family,

Peter's death was was unexpected in one way and expected in another. I knew of his medical problems but thought that he could overcome them. My last contact was about a year ago.

I sympathize with your loss and offer my deep condolences.

Peter was a great guy. He was commited to his profession and especially to his family. He was to young to die. We here were close to Peter as he served on the NYWEA Board and as an officier in the eighties.

A short time before he retired around 2000, he nominated the Association for an award from DEC. Patricia Cerro-Reehil and myself went down to Schenectady for the presentation ceremony. It was a nice day and we got to spend some time with Peter.

Peter was a great guy to know, he cotributed to the advancement of the Association and also to DEC. He was a dedicated public servant. He had a great sense of humor.

I remember when Peter was a candidate for the Bureau Chief position, i happened to be on the Civil Service Panel evaluating the candidates. He gave a stellar performance and was passed enthusiasically by the panel.

Peter will be missed by his many friends in the water field. They will remember him fondly for years to come.

Death even when expected is a shock. Loss of a spouse and a parent is especially tough and words are inadequate to express our feelings. We wish you, your children and his relatives and friends the best in this difficult time.

Sincerely,

Bob Hennigan

Bill Daley

August 2, 2006

Having worked with Peter throughout his career at DEC, I can truly say that I was honored by that association. Peter was a consummate professional with a finely tuned sense of environmental ethics. We all will miss his uncanny ability to use humor to illustrate a difficult-to-understand physical principle or moral issue.

My sympathy goes out to Peter's family and his many friends throughout the world.

Jerry Millett

August 2, 2006

Patti and Paul, My sincere condolences. I remember Peter as a sensitive and reflective young man. I will assume that these traits were the basis of his maturity and altruism throughout his life. Jerry Millett

George Hansen

August 2, 2006

Peter- Thank you for bringing us all together as your work family and giving us the freedom and encouragement to do the best we could. We achieved a lot with you and we'll miss you.

Sev Chetty

August 2, 2006

Sorry, Peter passed away. I had the pleasure to meet and interact with him several times during my work in DEC's Region 4 Office.

Fred Nuffer

August 2, 2006

To the Peter Mack Family:

I had the privledge of working with Peter for a number of years while he was in the Division of Water. He was a wonderful person and a good mentor. He shared many of his own parenting experiences with me as a way to help me along my own parenting path. They were much appreciated.

My fondess memory was when Peter and I went fishing together early one morning when we were at a Regional Water Engieners meeting in Old Forge, NY. Peter and I had stayed up late the night before with a bunch of other Water folks. We both decided that since I had brought a canoe and fishing equipment that we should go out before our scheduled 9AM morning meeting. We got up at 4AM and stumbled in the dark down to the parking lot. We drove to the edge of town and launched the canoe into the Moose River. We then proceeded to have a 5 minute debate as to which way the river was actually flowing - being Central Office water folks it wasn't so clear to us. We finally figured what us up and what ws down and decided to paddle upstream to fish. We anchored the canoe and Peter had his back to the far shore. As we sat there out of the forest came this huge black bear. It came down to the river and just sat there looking at us. It became unnerving as that bear just sat there eyeing Peter and me for 10 minutes. He really spooked us so we decided to move down stream away from the bear. We paddle about 200 yards down stream and around a small bend. A few minutes latter, the same bear appeared again and sat on the bank right in front of us. Peter and I decided he was probably just amuzing himself by watching a couple of hapless, unsuccessful fisherman; hoping that we'd finally leave so that he could try his luck.

I'll forever carry this memory and will miss him very much.

Carole Trifiletti

August 2, 2006

My deepest sympathy to Peter's family on their great loss. I worked with Peter in the Div. of Water, at NYSDEC. He was a genuine professional and his work ethics were to be admired. He will surely be missed.

Edward Reilly

August 2, 2006

Peter was a great mentor to me at DEC. Having both gone to Manhattan College, Peter took an instant liking and interest in me. However, it was our discussions about family that were the most moving.

My sincere sympathy goes out to the family at this time. However, I know Peter would want you, and all of us to focus on the many good times he had. And there were many!

God Bless you all!

Debbie Bisner

August 2, 2006

Patty, I offer my greatest sympathy to you and your family on the lose of Peter. I pray the Lord will comfort and strengthen you at this time and in the future.

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