Walter F. Mackie

MACKIE, Walter F. Walter F. Mackie of Wakefield and Biddeford Pool, ME, who spent a lifetime in early radio, newspapers and as a federal information officer, died Saturday (April 16, 2005) in Bristol. He was 87. Husband of the late Estelle (Jaynes) and Rosemarie (Linehan) and father of the late Francis G. Mackie, he is survived by his son, Walter G. Mackie and wife, Maryann, and grandchildren, Scott and Cheryl, George and Linda, Walter G. and wife Jodie, and granddaughter, Jessica Glowa and husband Kent, and seven great grandchildren. His brothers, David and Robert are deceased. His parents, David and Margaret died in the influenza epidemic in 1918 and 1920, before Walter was three years old. A Class of '35 graduate of Watertown, MA High School; Mr. Mackie started his news career as a cub night reporter for the Yankee Network News Service at the Boston police headquarters. He was the first news editor at WESX Salem and joined the editorial staff on the Boston Evening American in 1941. Mr. Mackie was a gunner on Marine Corps. Dive-bombers and was an accredited USMC Combat Correspondent in World War II in the Pacific War area. A Staff Sergeant, he wore four Battle Stars. He was the editor who sent the last edition of the American press in September 1961, ending 67 years of publishing. He was appointed public affairs officer for the New England Division Army Corps of Engineers at Waltham and retired in 1980. Mr. Mackie was a member of the USMC Combat Correspondents Assoc. He was a member of the Abenakee Club in Biddeford Pool, ME where he maintained a residence for 35 years. He was active in the Friends of Bill substance abuse program as a member and counselor. There will be a wake service on Wednesday April 20, from 5-8 p.m., at the New Britain Memorial/Sagarino Funeral Home, 444 Farmington Ave., New Britain. Burial will be at 11 a.m. on Thursday Morning at the Forest Glade Cemetery in Wakefield, MA. Please visit our online memorial at www.mem.com.