John Norman MacKay

John Norman MacKay

John Norman MacKay, born November 23, 1946, in Rome, New York, passed away peacefully on January 4, 2025, at Hospice of Northwest Ohio.

John earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1968. After college, John served his country with honor in the U.S. Navy, stationed in Quonset Point, Rhode Island, and Antarctica. After his military service, he pursued a legal degree, graduating summa cum laude from The Ohio State University College of Law in 1975. That same year, he began his distinguished legal career at Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, where he rose to partner, and most recently served as of counsel to the firm. Not only was John a zealous advocate for his clients, but he also took great pride in mentoring future generations of lawyers. He was a frequent seminar speaker and taught legal drafting and commercial transactions at the University of Toledo College of Law.

John was engaged in community and professional organizations. He was an active member of the Rotary Club of Toledo and the National Museum of the Great Lakes. He was also involved in the American Inns of Court, Morrison R. Waite Chapter, and the Toledo, Ohio, State, and American Bar Associations, serving on numerous committees for those organizations.

A lifelong swimmer, John's love for the sport began during his years as a competitive swimmer in high school and college. He shared this love with his children, and made lasting contributions to the swimming community as a longtime USA Swimming Official and General Counsel for Ohio Swimming. He cherished the countless hours he spent with his children during their competitive swimming careers and the enduring friendships he forged along the way.

John's insatiable passion for learning yielded other interests and hobbies. A self-taught sailor, John embarked on many adventures on Lake Erie, including several Mills Races. He valued the close friends he developed through sailing, particularly at North Cape Yacht Club. In recent years, he relished spending time on his sailboat, Sakonnet, at Catawba Island Club. The Toledo Club was a special place for John as well; it was the setting for family celebrations, wonderful dining experiences, and time spent with good friends. He was an ardent supporter of OSU football, and for many years hosted a party before the Ohio State-Michigan game to celebrate the annual rivalry. John was an enthusiastic cook, photographer, technophile, and traveler, visiting his children all over the country. Through his appetite for learning, John cultivated a wealth of knowledge that he enjoyed sharing with others.

John was preceded in death by his parents, John and Jeanne; as well as his sisters, Sandra and Sheila. He is survived by his beloved wife, Cindy Rerucha; sons, David, Mark, and James; daughter, Anne, and future son-in-law, Andrew Watson; brother, Don; and extended family members, Jim and Kathy Rerucha, Amy and Rick Hoffman, Susan and Jeff Calmes, Kathy Jeanne and Eric Hermiller; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

John's legacy of professional excellence and personal devotion to his family, friends, and community will be fondly remembered by all who knew him. May his memory bring comfort to those who mourn his loss and inspire all whose lives he touched.

Details regarding a memorial service will be provided at a later time. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Toledo Rotary Club Foundation, National Museum of the Great Lakes, Hospice of Northwest Ohio, or a charity of the donor's choice. John's family is profoundly grateful to the many individuals who cared for John over the past several months at Lakes of Sylvania, Orchard Villa, Toledo and Flower Hospitals, and Hospice of Northwest Ohio. Condolences for John's family may be expressed online at

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