Jim MacKenzie passes away at age 80

It is with deep sadness that the family of Jim MacKenzie shares the news of his passing on July 13, at his high Sierra cabin among family and long-time friends. Jim died a few months after celebrating his 80th birthday, and marking 57 years of marriage with his wife, Jan.

Jim was a devoted high school teacher, first at San Carlos High School, and then for many years at Menlo-Atherton High School, where he was an All-American water polo player as a student, graduating in 1963. He loved his Scottish heritage, teaching history, economics, and creating a senior psychology course, forging close relationships with his students, and athletes, during his coaching years. Many students recall Mr. MacKenzie in full Scottish regalia, chaperoning the prom and Senior Ball.

Born on April 8, 1945, to Miriam Roth MacKenzie and Dr. Alexander Scott Gray MacKenzie, Jim grew up in a close family on Oak Knoll Lane in Menlo Park. He was a natural athlete, while attending Oak Knoll Elementary School and M-A. He had many happy memories of his award winning swimming and water polo days, teammates, and beloved coach, Bob Gaughran.

After attending The University of the Pacific on an athletic scholarship, he went to Cal Berkeley for his teaching credential, He and his wife, Jan, who also attended M-A, raised a son, Ken and daughter, Jean through the same school systems. Both of his children had him as their Psychology teacher.

When Jim retired in 2006, he spent the next 14 years not far from his dog, Blayney, named after the meadow by his Sierra campsite, where he enjoyed the beautiful South fork of the San Joaquin River, starting as a child. Jim also spent time working with the M-A Alumni Association, and helping to organize the M-A Athletic Hall of Fame, into which he was inducted.

Jim loved his family, and rock and roll, as well as the mountains, and was especially overjoyed when combining all three. He was enormously proud of the adults his children had become. Tradition was important in his life, whether attending the yearly Scottish Games, or spending holidays baking recipes he learned from his Nonny, and sharing with siblings.

Jim is survived by his wife, Janet Hanbery MacKenzie, son, Kenneth Lyon MacKenzie (Paulina), daughter Jean Elizabeth MacKenzie-Peters (David), and his three much cherished granddaughters, Maisie MacKenzie Gordinier, Mila Sofia MacKenzie and Mara Grace MacKenzie, as well as his two Scottish step-grandsons, Andrew and Adam Peters of Edinburgh area. He is also survived by his five siblings, his best friend and sister, Alexandra Standing (Douglas), brothers David MacKenzie (Helen), William MacKenzie, Duncan MacKenzie (Phyllis), and Donald MacKenzie(Janice). He leaves many loved nieces and nephews.

Jim highly valued his teaching friends, some with whom he played poker for over 50 years, and some with whom he shared a special friendship. He also counted on, and appreciated his mountain friends, among them those he had known since childhood, those who helped build his cabin, and those who videoed his exit from this world via helicopter, rising above Blayney Meadow, up and flying toward the setting sun. The family is forever grateful to them all.

A private gathering will be held with family and close friends. Donations in memory of Jim’s full life may be made to https://tinyurl.com/academyscholarships.  This M-A program, coordinated by Chris Rubin, targets affording at-risk youth the opportunity to go to college.

This obituary was contributed by Jim’s family.