Mr. Victor Maccagnan Sr.

Victor Maccagnan, Sr., 88, died in Princeton, NJ on July 15, 2020 at home surrounded by his loving family. Victor was born on January 14, 1932 in Hackensack, NJ, only a few months after his late parents Angelo and Nella (DeRochi) Maccagnan emigrated from Italy through Ellis Island. Vic, as he was eventually known to all, was a first generation U.S. citizen and the oldest brother of five children (John Maccagnan, Angie Galli (Maccagnan), Marino Maccagnan, and Angelo Maccagnan, Jr.) The family relocated to Lakeville, Connecticut when Vic was a young boy. His early years were spent on a family farm that his father, he, and his brothers built themselves. Learning the trade of stone masonry from his father, Vic grew into a strong, powerful young man who often worked long hours in the hot sun with his father moving stone, laying bricks, and "mixing mud"; a simple skill learned from an uncomplicated man that he would tell people defined his whole life insofar as determination, values, and work ethic were concerned. Two other passions defined his young life however and set him on the course that would mark the rest of his days. Vic was a brilliant student and an exceptionally gifted athlete. His mother supported Vic's thirst for knowledge from a very early age and, although lacking any means whatsoever apart from love, was always encouraging his academic endeavors. Fate smiled on Vic as a teenager and he was offered an opportunity and full scholarship to attend a prestigious private preparatory boarding school; the Hotchkiss School, in Salisbury, Connecticut. This was largely the result of his mother's advocating for him and an extremely generous and kind benefactor who recognized his potential and the fact that he was special among his peers. Vic excelled in the classroom and also on the football and baseball fields. Graduating from Hotchkiss in 1951, Vic applied to, and was accepted by, Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts; again funded completely by the college based on his demonstrated potential. He starred at Amherst in both Varsity Baseball and Varsity Football for four years. All the while however, his true focus was in the classroom and on learning. His appetite for knowledge and the way that he approached education was voracious and he became at master at balancing this with sports and fun. He was nicknamed "Hollywood Vic" by his friends because he moved through his life so happily, handsomely, and effortlessly. At heart though, and in practice, he was an extremely humble, studious, self-effacing, kind, loyal, and honorable man. His athletic talents (hitting home runs specifically) drew the notice of the Boston Braves (the predecessor of today's MLB Atlanta Braves). He was offered an opportunity and a roster spot in 1952, while still at Amherst, to play baseball on a team in the prestigious Cape Cod League; then and today a grooming ground for ballplayers with professional talent and potential. Much to the surprise of the Braves, he turned this opportunity down as he had previously committed to help his father that summer work the farm and do masonry work to help support his family. Graduating from Amherst in 1955, he served in the US Air Force for two years in the Strategic Air Command as a 1st Lieutenant in New Hampshire and Thule, Greenland. Following this, Vic applied for and was granted admission to Georgetown University Law School in Washington, DC. Two momentous things occurred during his law school years. First, he met a young lady named Mary Elizabeth Finstad (known as Mitzi) who he fell madly in love with and second, he began teaching school at Columbian Preparatory School, while still a law student, as a way to fund and feed himself while he studied and sat for the BAR exam. Both of these events came to define the rest of his life. He married Mitzi (his first and foremost love) in 1960 and he never, ever, stopped teaching (his "close second" love). Vic and Mitzi then embarked on a long and winding journey in the world of secondary school college preparatory education. They almost immediately started a family while still living in the Washington DC area and had a son (Victor, Jr.) and a daughter (Suzanne Elizabeth). Moving to South Berwick, Maine in 1965, Vic was hired at Berwick Academy as a history and political science teacher, and as a football and baseball coach. Vic and his growing family, three sons and a daughter (Michael John, Mary Nella, Robert Joseph, and Thomas Joseph) were born during this period, lived in Maine for ten years. Tragically, Vic and Mitzi's son Robert died shortly after birth. Vic eventually was selected as the Headmaster of Berwick and served in that position from 1971 to 1973. It became very clear during these years - to Vic, his family, and all who knew him - that he had a gift for teaching and mentoring young people. It also became evident that his humble beginnings, and the incredible generosity that he had been shown as a young man that provided opportunity where there was none, helped him develop a selfless, kind, gentle, caring, and giving nature and demeanor that defined his character and his behavior. He was also extremely fun to be around, for his children and those who knew him, and would often drop his serious side once he got home from work, fully embrace his extrovert nature, and add a large dose of silly. Mitzi would frequently count him among the children when handing out a scolding or censure on out of control exuberant behavior. In 1973, Vic and family moved to Hightstown, New Jersey and began the longest tenured portion of his professional career. For 37 years he taught at The Peddie School and served as the Dean of Students. It was at Peddie that Vic truly enjoyed the rewards of his chosen profession. As one of the school's senior leaders, most experienced and educated faculty, and accomplished and skilled teachers, he touched the lives of thousands of students and hundreds of his peers. He coached baseball and golf. When he stopped coaching he was a Little League Umpire in the community for many years. He was a friend and mentor to all, beloved, trusted, respected, and counted on by all those he worked and interacted with. He was both a father and teacher to his own children during this time; instructing them in the classroom as well as at home. By virtue of his profession and how he approached it, he was also, very literally, a father and a teacher to the young men and women who sat in his classrooms or lived with his family as "boarding" students in the dormitories he was responsible for. Mitzi used to kid him that he had two families, borrowing from phrases that he frequently used, and would tell him that he had learned how to balance his love for both her and his kids and the "boys up at school". This is a 100% accurate description of Vic. Countless students, from years past and from places far and wide, would unexpectedly contact Vic, or in later years one of his children, and offer thanks or recount stories of how he influenced them and helped them. This sentiment was almost always expressed in terms of praise that echoed admiration one might offer only to a cherished parent. Vic himself was a lifelong learner. The love of the pursuit of knowledge that he exhibited in his youth never left him. He fully embraced and encouraged continuing education. His children remember that he was always, among all his other myriad responsibilities, enrolled in some course or class or program somewhere that consumed his precious time. He relished this though. It was his release and his relief, and frankly how he relaxed, and he would fill hours with discussion, comments, and analysis with friends and family on the many things he was studying and learning. Additional Masters Degrees, certifications, accreditations, and a long list of class completions in various subjects he was interested in piled up in his office and den. Vic also never touched a book that he could part with, to include duplicates that he thought he might someday use in summer school or to offer to a student who did not have the means to buy his own. He owned lots and lots of books. Vic was always a Godly man; extremely strong in his faith and in his walk. His devotion to the Lord was personal and private but he exuded the grace that God grants to believers and he was always a calming, constant, and assured voice to those would listen. He instructed many with his deeds, actions, and behaviors. People inevitably marveled at the fact that he never seemed to get depressed or down in even the most stressful or anxious circumstances. He was always supportive, uplifting, and assuring; recognizing that all people have value and that, with the right application of lessons and instruction from a gifted teacher, potential and performance could be unlocked and made to flourish. Vic inevitably became a father-in-law, grandfather, and a great-grandfather; roles he was perfectly and completely born to. His capacity to provide love, guidance, and nurturing spread across his family tree and he was always the center of attention for a whole new crop of "students" that he provided instruction for until his passing. Kate Perry (Maccagnan) and her husband Clayton and son Jude, Jack Maccagnan, his son Michael's wife Betty Maccagnan (Pirpamer), his daughter Mary's husband Christopher Piasecki and their children Grace and Matthew, his son TJ's wife Stephanie Maccagnan (Schwartz) and their children Justin, Sydney, and Taylor, are all among Vic's latest "class". Sadly, Vic was preceded in death by his beloved wife Mitzi in 2012, but he was never without her and he lived these last years as both himself and her in many ways. Vic's passing was incredibly peaceful, as you would hope and expect a man of such grace and greatness to be afforded. There was only and always love and joy in his simple gentle life. The collective prayer from all those family and friends who knew him, were loved by him, and were touched and influenced by him is that his example as a teacher to us all, will be perpetuated and honored as we are able to emulate his character and nature. Vic's gratitude for his chance to get an education when he lacked the means never left him. He consistently gave what resources he could afford back to Hotchkiss, Amherst, Georgetown, and to Peddie as well, for all the years of his life. His final desires were that if people wished to express their condolences or respect, they might consider a donation in his name to one of these schools to perpetuate and support funding for financial aid to needy students with the longing for knowledge and the burning passion to learn. Please see the following websites: https://www.hotchkiss.org/give; https://www.amherst.edu/give; https://www.law.georgetown.edu/alumni/giving/; https://www.peddie.org/support/ways-to-give.