Louis H. Mackey

Family-Placed Obituary

Sept. 24, 1926 - Mar. 25, 2004 Louis H. Mackey, Professor Emeritus in Philosophy at the University of Texas at Austin, died peacefully in Christ on March 25th, 2004, at Seton Hospital surrounded by his family. He was born September 24th, 1926, in Sidney, Ohio, the only child of Louis and Clara Mackey. He received a BA from Capital University, Columbus, Ohio, pursued graduate studies in Philosophy at Duke University and at Yale University where he took his Doctorate in 1954, served as Assistant Professor in the Directed Studies program, and was awarded a fellowship for study abroad in 1957. He joined the faculty of Rice University at Houston in 1959, where his challenging, engaged teaching won awards. In 1967 he joined the faculty of the University of Texas at Austin, again distinguishing himself as a gifted, dedicated teacher, and receiving, among others, the prestigious Harry Ransom Award for Teaching Excellence in 1987. Louis Mackey's books and articles reflect his subtle intellect, wit and passionate engagement with the great questions broached in Existentialist and Medieval Philosophy, and with the scope and tasks of Aesthetics and Literary Criticism. He loved music and was an accomplished amateur singer (and sometime director) of madrigal, oratorio, cantata and liturgical chant. His artistic talents extended to occasional acting in theater, television and, most recently, the films Slacker and Waking Life. He was a faithful member of the Anglican communion and attended All Saints Episcopal Church in Austin, where he frequently served as lay reader. As he wished, he will be cremated, with memorial services to be held at 6:00 p.m., Monday, March 29th at All Saints Episcopal Church at 209 W. 27th St, Austin, TX. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Louis's name to Shakespeare at Winedale c/o UT Austin, Department of English, 1 University Station B 5000, Austin,TX, 78712. Louis is survived by his first wife, Caroll Brandt, and their sons, Stephen and Thomas Mackey, all of Madison, WI, and by his second wife, Linda Mackey, of Austin, and their children, Jacob (Dee Anne Evangelho) Mackey of Princeton University, NJ, and Dr. Eva (Julien Meyrat) Mackey, family physician, of Denver, CO. Louis's family thanks Dr. Hinze and Dr. Weingarten, and the nursing staff of Seton Hospital's Telemetry Ward for their compassionate care. To his many students, Louis was a mentor and an unparalleled inspiration. To his friends and colleagues, as much as to his students, Louis was an important teacher and a genuine companion. To his family, Louis will stand always as a man who, deep in faith and broad in intellect, compassion and humor, fulfilled in his sojourn here all that is represented by the title, father. Into Paradise may the angels lead you, And at your coming may the saints receive you, And bring you into the holy city Jerusalem.