Julian Leroy "Mac" McGinty

VIRGINIA BEACH - Julian L. 'Mac' McGinty, a resident of 604 Edwin Drive in Larkspur, died January 14, 2003. Mac was born in Atlanta, GA in June, 1925. At 17 he joined the Navy and saw action in the Pacific where he survived the sinking of two ships. After the war, he made a career in the Navy, achieving the designation as the first Chief Interior Communications Technician. He also discovered his real calling - sports, and more specifically, coaching. During his final eight years on active duty, Mac became one of the most successful and recognized coaches of the military's intramural and varsity sports programs. He helped build several All-Navy and All-Service championship teams in baseball, football, and basketball for AIRLANT, SUBLANT, and the USS Forrestal. On retirement from active duty, in 1962, Mac became the Athletic Director at Naval Station, Norfolk and continued to work in the area of Special Services for the next 30 years, retiring in 1992 as the Director of Special Services, Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base. Mac never met a stranger and everyone looked forward to his jokes. He never disappointed them. Mac was an avid golfer and was a longtime member of the Kempsville Golf Course. Some of his greatest joys in life included coaching, refereeing, spending time with his family and enjoying a cold beer with friends. He was an active member of St. Peter's Episcopal Church where he volunteered many hours maintaining the Church grounds. Mac is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 57 years, Ernestine. He is also survived by his three sons, Chuck, Bob and Buddy; his 'daughters' Pam, Chris, Mary, Amanda, and Lynn; his six grandchildren, Sean, Jenny, Suzanne, Skeeter, Julianne, and Morgann. His brother, James, and his sister, Margie, and their families in Montgomery, AL also survive him. Memorial services will be held at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 224 S. Military Hwy., Norfolk, on Saturday, January 18, at 3:00 p.m. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Peter's Episcopal Church.