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Martin Gregory Mackey

1951 - 2017

BORN

1951

DIED

2017

About

Regis High School University of Southern California

Martin Mackey Obituary

April 21, 1951 - May 26, 2017 We hold a photo of our beloved brother Marty and he has his arm around one of his special needs students who is beaming and you see the boy's joy reflected in Marty's eyes. We watch a video of the "Summers of Marty" which he spent with our brother Mike's sons, after Mike's sudden passing. We remember him playing Cagney and singing "Harrigan" as a young boy and then as a young man, Big Daddy, Off-Broadway. Marty was well educated: Regis H.S. '69, Le Moyne College '73 and an MA, USC but for Marty this was a beginning and not an end. He put his superb mental powers and great heart in the service of his students and colleagues in the Los Angeles and Burbank schools.There are so many things to remember: his unique store, Blue Meringue, on the corner of Hollywood and Sunset, his own Assemblage Art, golf at Bethpage Black and Rancho, his apartment as installation and his cooking breakfast daily for the nearby homeless. Marty was born in Brooklyn on April 21st, 1951 to Thomas and Louise Mackey (nee Maillie) and died in Los Angeles after a brave battle on May 26th, 2017. In between, oh how he lived! Marty is survived by his sister Frances Lang (Mark), his brothers Tom (Ingrid), Robert (Rosemary) and Gregory (Linda), his sister-in-law Clare Mackey, his niece and nephews and their families. We hold the unforgettable Marty in our hearts forever.

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Published by Los Angeles Times from Jun. 28 to Jul. 2, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for Martin Mackey

Sponsored by The Mackey and Lang Family.

19 Entries

Michael Mirnoff

June 3, 2025

One of my favorite teachers! I would not have made it through middle school had it not been for Mr. Mackey. I will never forget finishing up my work as fast as possible so that I could play with his foosball table. I googled him tonight so that I could tell him that I have gone back to college to get my Early Childhood Education degree so that I could teach Special Education. Instead my heart is very heavy and broken hearing this. God bless Mr.Mackey. Thank you sir for all you did for me and the rest of your students. I love you sir.

Yanira

January 22, 2024

He was such a awesome amazing teacher I had in John Muir middle school he was always so happy and showed us how to have fun and study at the same time he would always play his music the beetles yellow submarine one and come together those are his favorite songs he made every one enjoy school my condolences to his family he was the best teacher I remember and will always remember him thanks to him I continue my school

Tom Mackey

April 21, 2020

I Remember Marty

I remember the enthusiasms
LA Farmers Market Nancy Tropical
The hamburger stand before vegetables
The Mexican Joint was it El Coyote
I wish I could call you to ask
Oh I miss our phone calls
Bates was your Walden Pond and
You stayed and walked to Blue Meringue
Tell me again what Tom Waits was like
Can we laugh about the lady
Who thought a $100 item was a buck
And still wanted a discount the Vista
From Bates you put on dress shirts
Drove your Miata to Burbank to kids
Who so needed just who you were
A giver you gave summers
To boys at a loss
I remember your art and the weeks
You read the NYer cover to cover
Our days at the Black and Rancho
All those sets of clubs and movies
And you fed the homeless
Played the Arena and put over Harrigan
That's how you started
And I remember a 14 year-old boy
Who took the train to the city
And never came home

Shain Mcgraham

August 24, 2018

Martin was a good friend of mine, he helped me get through hard times and helped me look on the bright sided things, he was my teacher at Miller elementary and he was always there for me when I needed him. The last time I saw him was in 2011, unfortunately I did know he passed until about an Hour ago when I was reminded of him and decided to see what he was doing. Mr.Mackey you will always live in my heart and I will always rember you as my favorite teacher. -Shain

July 18, 2018

I knew Martin during his Blue Meringue days. I sold him numerous things and every now and then treated myself to something from his unique little shop adjacent to the Vista theater in Silverlake. He and I spent many an afternoon sharing enthusiasms and prejudices, often fueled by a six pack. He was a unique individual, bright, interesting and compassionate. We lost touch after he closed his store but I recall running into him sometime later and was moved by the enthusiasm he expressed with his new teaching vocation. Our friendship was brief, but I will never forget him, and I am saddened that he has passed. Denny Burt

August 8, 2017

I was so saddened to hear of Martin's passing. I worked closely with him at John Muir in the special Ed dept. he was a good man and gifted teacher. I will never forget him. Jane Singer

July 24, 2017

My deepest condolences to the family and friends. Please be assured that God feels your pain and desires to help you. He promises at Psalm 9:9, 10 that He "will become a secure refuge...in times of distress." May you rely on Him to sustain you during this difficult time.

Ken Rice

July 7, 2017

Martin was a special breed of teacher. He was very committed to his students and their needs. He was very intelligent and that was reflected in his humor. He was a great human being.

Le Moyne

July 7, 2017

Please accept the most heartfelt sympathies of Le Moyne College. We hope the love and memories that you will forever hold in your heart bring you peace and comfort during this difficult time.
Le Moyne College, Office of Alumni and Parent Programs
Syracuse, NY

Maestro Mackey and the 2005 Prom King Ramón

Ramón Carrillo de Albornoz

July 6, 2017

To our beloved friend and Maestro (teacher) Mr. Mackey, the best teacher I've ever had in my life since middle school and high school. Thanks to him I succeed middle school on my 8th grade year and also in high school on my senior year 12th grade. I had him twice, first, in John Muir Middle School in Burbank, California on my 8th grade thanks to him he saved me I was face a terrible crisis of failing school since 6th and 7th grade. And second, in Burbank High School in Burbank, on the senior year 12th also he saved me I was in another terrible crisis of failing and not reaching 12th grade, for the second time I had him in Algebra. My family Carrillo de Albornoz we are deeply sorry of the loss of your brother, my teacher our deep condolences to Martin's family. Martin had the pleasure to meet my parents on back to school night, open house and parents/teachers meeting in middle and high school. Maestro Mackey was not only an excellent Maestro (teacher), but also an excellent friend. I'm pleased to share this photograph since Burbank High School on my final exam of Alegra shaking hands thanking him to being an excellent teacher. My family and I will always remember Martin Mackey in our hearts and memories. He's now part of our family on the day of the deads that we celebrate in Mexico will put a photograph of Martin Mackey in our altar display of our beloved departed remembering him as he is part of our family. I will always remember my best Maestro teacher of the world Mr. Mackey. I can't believe he's gone and my heart was broken after being notice that Mr. Mackey past away right after my birthday. As we say in Mexico "Que en paz descanse" which means "Rest in peace".

Family Carrillo de Albornoz
Ramón Sr., Verónica Patricia and Ramón Jr.

Sonny Avallone

July 2, 2017

I had the great pleasure of going to both High School and College with Marty. While at LeMoyne, he dragged me into several theatrical productions, which have to this day remained some of my proudest moments, as he brought out the hidden actor in me with his gentle directorial skills. A character in all positive meanings of the word, full of energy, wit and boundless creativity. I had the pleasure of spending a couple of hours with him in 2010 after tracking him down over 15 years, only to find him exactly where I had last seen him living, and the bond remained close despite the intervening years and divergence of our lives. More than a lot of deaths of contemporaries, all of which are painful, this one hurts more than I thought it could. I feel the world is a lesser place, MY world is a lesser place, even though years and miles kept us from any real contact. I just liked that someone like Marty was in the world, and I'm saddened beyond measure that it no longer the case.

John Joseph Mackey

June 27, 2017

My condolences to Martin's family. I found his obituary while searching on this name, which he shared with a relative of mine who was a Catholic priest in Brooklyn NY (I believe) circa 1929.

Hallie Fleishman

June 25, 2017

I was a counselor at John Muir Middle School when I met my dear great friend, Martin. twenty years ago. It was like finding a long lost brother! We worked closely together for more than 10 years and remained dear friends for more than ten years after that. I was always impressed by Martin's dedication to his students. He was a treasure hunter...was always looking for things he could bring into the classroom to help his special needs students understand whatever concept he was teaching. His classroom was always filled with unique treasures he used to make his point. Martin had his students start a classroom store to teach them life skills...they loved him and loved having him as their teacher. Martin introduced me to Tom Waits and Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys. We shared music and hung weekly for many years. We would sometimes run into each other at our favorite thrift stores. Martin got me my first subscription to the New Yorker magazine. Something I will always be grateful for, He was the wisest, most well read person and knew everything about movies. Martin taught my son a wonderful card trick, carefully instructing him on what to say and how to say it to get the rube to buy in to the trick. My family loved Martin as well. My mother and aunt enjoyed talking with him and considered him family. Martin's student, Ramon said he and his family will include and honor Martin in their Dia de los Muertos celebration in Mexico because they considered him family. I can't believe he's gone. My dear friend, you are always in my heart! I love you Martin! Thank you for being my friend.
`Hallie Fleishman

Lynn Rothacher

June 22, 2017

From 1996-2003, Martin graciously volunteered his after school hours co-directing plays with me at John Muir Middle School in Burbank, Ca. Ever humble, he eschewed a directing credit, preferring instead the title of "Factotum." With his theatrical background, impeccable eye, and unmatched wit, Martin made those middle school plays better than they had any right to be. And he made a very stressful job incredibly fun. Martin taught me everything about everything, enriching my life and the lives of our students far beyond the four corners of the theater. I will always cherish our time together at our table in the pit.
Good night, sweet prince: And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!

Vanessa Mackey

June 21, 2017

My Uncle Marty gave me a vision for what a life filled with creativity could look like. You can move across the country, you can switch careers, you can watch a movie 365 days a year, you can have an endless amount of cats and you can definitely spend your $50 Christmas cash on something completely irresponsible. I miss you already but have not lost your movie star voice in my head.

Chris O'Keeffe

June 20, 2017

I was a freshman at Regis when Marty was a senior. Ditto at LeMoyne. He was a figure of lore. Looks like he kept it up. RIP

Rob Mackey

June 16, 2017

Uncle Marty is a legend who has provided countless memories for the younger generation of Mackey men, women and children, as he has for the students he taught. His legacy lives on daily in our hearts, minds and in our Netflix queues.

Bob Fredericks

June 16, 2017

Marty was a classmate of mine at Regis. I so vividly remember him on the first day there -- He was the first classmate I met -- He came up to me with his joyous smile and shook my hand as he introduced himself. I knew him well for those 4 years - Met games at Shea - golf at Bethpage -- and laughter -- always joyful laughter -- he brought passion and laughter to all. I have not heard from him in years -- but the memory of him always brings joy. Rest in peace Marty - you were and are loved.

Tom Mackey

June 16, 2017

Oh my brother, we miss you.

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