Hyde, Maclay Reed ...a leader, environmentalist, athlete, and family man Maclay Reed Hyde, known to everyone as Mac, passed away peacefully on March 8, 2013 at the age 78 from complications of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. He was born December 11, 1934, the son of Arthur Dwight Hyde, Sr. and Josephine Maclay Hyde. Mac was preceded in death by his older brother, Arthur Dwight Hyde, Jr. He is survived by Joan Bissell Hyde, his wife, life partner and friend of 49 years; his son, Paul Maclay Hyde (wife, Katie) of Edina, MN; daughter, Kathryn Rachel Bartel (husband, Jim) of Independence, MN and son, David Bissell Hyde (wife, Julie) of Barnet, VT; and 5 grandchildren, Samuel Reed Bartel, Rachel Wynn Bartel, Francis Maclay Hyde, Trillian Josephine Hyde and Earnest Bissell Hyde. He is also survived by his sister, Roxbury Crystal (husband, Bruce) of Longmont, CO and sister-in-law, Carrol J.Hyde; sister and brother-in-law Carol and Lynn Truesdell and many nieces and nephews. Following Kenwood grade school, Mac entered Blake School where he became a leader in both student government and on the athletic field as quarterback of the football team and member of the hockey (goalie) and golf teams, graduating in 1953. He continued his education at Harvard, was a member of the Owl Club, Captain of the Crimson Lacrosse Team and an All American Lacrosse player, graduating in 1957. After completing basic training in the U.S. Army in 1957 and 6 months active duty in Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, he served in the Army Reserves for 5 years. Mac entered Columbia Law School in 1958, transferred to the University of Minnesota Law School in 1960 and received his LLB degree in 1962. After graduation, he joined the firm of Larson, Loevenger, Lindquist, Freeman and Fraser (later Lindquist and Vennum), served as City Attorney for Brooklyn Center, and remained at this firm until 1980. While at Lindquist and Vennum, Mac represented Reserve Mining Co. in the first major state and federal environmental enforcement case and went on to become a leading expert in environmental law throughout his legal career. Mac then went to the Law Firm of Bassford, Hecht, Lockhart and Mullin where he practiced for 8 years. He joined Gray, Plant, Mooty, Mooty & Bennett in 1988 and practiced there for 10 years. His legal emphasis was mostly environmental and trial/litigation work. During his legal career, he was a member of 2 honorary bar associations. In 2007, Mac was awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the Environmental, Natural Resource and Energy Law Section of the Minnesota Sate Bar Association. In 1995, Mac and his oldest son Paul, formed Real Estate Recycling, LLC to redevelop brownfield sites into new sustainable commercial buildings. Recently, Mac and Paul launched a new company, Hyde Development, where he continued to provide consulting services to major companies and municipalities. Mac had a life long commitment to community service including his leadership as President of the City of Lakes Rotary Club, member of Westminster Presbyterian Church Board of Deacons, the Session and Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Additionally, he served on several pastoral search committees of the Church. As a great way to carry forward his intense and disciplined interest in history, he was an active participant in the History Roundtable and enjoyed sharing historical information and perspectives with friends. Peter Beak, Mac's college roommate and close friend over the years recently said, "To his friends, he was a wonderful supporter and advisor. He was always ready to go to any length to help us, not just by providing sage advice, but by getting actively involved." To his family he shared his love, strength, quiet wisdom and generosity without boundaries. There were memorable times together at the Bissell cabin on Cranberry Lake in Wisconsin where the family would gather for "A Cranberry Fix" from a busy city life. In recent months, Mac took his treasured dog "Peaches" on long walks among the white pines and loved bird watching and the wild life in this peaceful setting. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 30, 2013 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Minneapolis at 2 PM in the sanctuary. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Westminster Presbyterian Church. www.Washburn-McReavy.com Edina Chapel 952-920-3996 West 50th St. & Hwy 100
This obituary was originally published in the Star Tribune.