Robert Alan MacKay

1925 - 2016

Robert Alan MacKay
October 11, 1925 – February 8, 2016
Resident of Walnut Creek, California
Bob MacKay, a dedicated family man and community servant, passed away peacefully on Monday, Feb 8, 2016. He was born in Lewiston, Illinois, to Lisle and Laura Boyd MacKay. The family moved to the Detroit, Michigan area, where younger sister Elizabeth was born. He was a graduate of Denby HS in Detroit ('43) and of the University of Michigan ('49) with a degree in Economics. Bob served in the army from '44-'45, at the end of WWII. He completed his MBA from the University of Michigan and joined Arthur Andersen and Co. in 1950 as a CPA. In 1952, Bob married Rita Wibbelman, resulting in a union that spanned 64 years. Bob and Rita began their globe trotting adventures in 1955, as Bob joined Procter & Gamble International. They spent the next 12 years abroad in Toronto, Geneva, Genoa, and Rome, and enjoyed 9 more years of other international assignments based out of Cincinnati, Ohio. With daughters Carolyn, Katherine, and Susan, the family traveled extensively, embracing each new country and culture. They moved to Walnut Creek where Bob finished his international finance career with the Clorox Co. Bob was admired for his keen perception, intelligence, strong sense of fair play, and dry sense of humor.
Always a man of service, Bob was an active Board member of the Walnut Creek Education Foundation, Treasurer of the Civic Arts Association of Walnut Creek, and was instrumental in establishing the Academic Programs for Excellence (APEX) in Contra Costa County. He also served as Finance Chair for United Way of the Bay Area. Bob shared his love of language with middle and high school students by acting as Spelling Master for the Contra Costa County Spelling Bee for many years. He offered his skills and services to IESC (an international professional exchange) through which he and Rita lived in Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Honduras for extended periods of time.
Bob is survived by his wife, Rita, daughters, Carolyn MacKay (Frank Trechsel), Katherine Lefanowicz (Mark) and Susan MacKay-Logue (Kevin Logue) and their families with 7 grandchildren – Libby, Kate (Roland), Mac, Becca, Kelly, Molly and K.J., his sister, Liz Saylor, sister-in-law Annette McCarron, and many nieces and nephews. Bob was pre-deceased by his brothers-in-law John and Robert Wibbelman. He will be greatly missed by the community and an abundance of dear friends.
A celebration of Bob's life will be held at St. John Vianney Church, Monday, March 14, at 11 am. Donations may be made in Bob's honor to the Walnut Creek Education Foundation or Diablo Regional Arts Association.


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