Obituary of Ross MacKinnon

Ross Grant MacKinnon, son of Marion Amelia Poppe and Donald West MacKinnon, passed away surrounded by his family at Ellis Hospital on October 10, 2013. He was the beloved husband of Patricia Smith MacKinnon, devoted and loving father and father-in-law of Kerry and Steven Evans, Daniel and Melissa MacKinnon, and Stephen and Danielle MacKinnon. He was the adoring grandfather of Ian, Allison, and Amelia Evans; and Nicole and Mason MacKinnon. He is survived by his sister Karen and her husband Robert Martin, as well as many nieces and nephews. Ross truly loved spending time with his family, especially his five grandchildren. He stayed very active and spent many hours outdoors golfing, hiking into the woods to cut and split wood, and working in his yard. But probably one of his favorite activities was touring the back roads of Saratoga County in his 1965 vintage Austin Healey roadster. Ross volunteered with Habitat for Humanity in Schenectady, and was also active in league bowling. Ross was a born teacher. He taught chemistry for 30 years at Scotia-Glenville High School and in addition, coached baseball, basketball and softball. He was an enthusiastic teacher who made learning fun; his family fondly remembers many former students stopping to speak to their beloved Mr. MacKinnon wherever he went. Ross retired from teaching in 1999, but it did not end his involvement in coaching softball and basketball in the Scotia School District. Ross was born in Newark, NJ, on November 29, 1942 and graduated from Westwood High School (NJ), Union College, and SUNY Albany. He was the President of his Westwood High class and loved organizing his high school reunions where he could socialize with friends from almost 60 years ago. He served his country honorably as a Naval Officer in Vietnam. Ross will forever be loved and remembered by his family, friends and students for enthusiasm, honesty, loyalty, and good humor. We will all miss him very much. Calling hours will be held at the Glenville Funeral Home, 9 Glenridge Rd., East Glenville on Monday, Oct. 14, 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m.. Committal services with military honors will be held Tuesday October 15, 2013 at 10:30 am at the Gerald B.H. Solomon National Cemetery, 200 Duell Rd., Schuylerville, NY. Anyone wishing to attend should meet at the cemetery visitor's center at 10:15 am. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Schenectady Habitat for Humanity (schenectadyhabitat.org) or HABITAT FOR HUMANITY INTERNATIONAL INC (SCHENECTADY COUNTY HFH) PO BOX 9043 SCHENECTADY, NY.