Roderick Donaldson Mackay

February 3, 1934 - January 31, 2021 Del Rey Oaks, CA

“Roddy” died peacefully at home with wife Betty and wee Charlie by his side. At age four his parents abandoned him and his 4 siblings in Edinburgh, Scotland. He alone was forced to migrate an ocean and continent away to Kingsley Fairbridge Farm School in Victoria, Canada, for child migrants to be trained as farmers or domestics. A harsh life for him suffering physical and emotional abuse at the hands of the house mother and the older boys. Rather than spiral into self-pity, destruction, and bitterness he used his experience as inspiration: UK Child Migrant Trust helped find justice and reconnect child migrants with their families and himself, which led to giving testimony at the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry in Edinburgh, and then representing 120,000 Canadian Child Migrants at the Formal Apology by Gordon Brown Prime Minister in London; half a century later located his own family, raised his own family; and recorded his life memoir “Abandoned Children of Britain,” and summoned togetherness constantly. Roddy wore many hats: Brother, Father, Coach, Veteran, Teacher, Counselor, Author, Drum Major and Judge, Manager Scottish/Celtic Festival, a People person. He taught at Monterey High School, Monterey Peninsula College, and coached Soccer at MHS and York High School. Roddy received many awards: The Memorial CrossAmbassador for Peace from the Republic of Korea, for Roddy’s service in Korea with the Canadian Army; Nominated for MBE the Prestigious Member of the Order of the British Empire Honor for his contribution to the education of Scottish and Celtic culture; Humanitarian of the year 2008 Salinas Jaycees. Memberships: Canadian Scottish Regiment; Fairbridge Canada Assoc.; Child Migrant Trust; Western US Pipe Band Assoc.; Monterey Pipe Band; Prince Charles Pipe Band; The Scottish Society of the Monterey Peninsula: Caledonian Club of San Francisco; Monterey Elks and Church in the Forest. Roddy is survived by: his wife Betty, sisters: Annie Minhinnick (Chris)-NZ, Rosemary Mackay-NZ and June Andreou (Chris)-ENG; brothers Robert-ENG.; Billy (Edna) South Africa; daughters: Christine Mackay; Briana Tringali (Sal); son Iain Mackay (Heather). Grandchildren Joseph, Christian and Olivia Tringali; Britney Plummer, Jeffery Mackay; Great-granddaughter Tara Mackay Powers. Many much-loved nephews, nieces, and friends. Predeceased by daughter Tara Mackay; brother Sandy Mackay (Eng) and sister Minnie Ward (Eng). The family would like to thank Dr. Richard King, Dr. Zach Koontz, Dr. John Hausdorf and the Hospice of the Monterey Peninsula. “Roddy was not a giant of industry or a giant of sports, he was a giant of the soul. He created family everywhere he went.” Rev. Dr. Joanne Swenson-Church in the Forest.