Alexander St. Charles Philip Mackertich

WESTFIELD, MA- Alexander St.Charles Philip Mackertich, 96, of Westfield, died March 29th, 2019 with his family at his side. Alex was the beloved husband of Johanne (Hansen) Mackertich with whom he shared 65 years of marriage. He was born a British subject in Calcutta, India to Philip and Annie Mackertich. He was a loving brother to George and wife Debbie of Onset, MA and his late sisters Lucy, Agnes, Zena, & Madeline; loving father to his son Neal, his wife Marilee, and their children Samantha & Gregory of Hopkinton, MA; and loving father to his daughter Anne-Marie McDonnell, her husband Michael, and their children Alyssa & Christina of Bolton, CT. Dr. Mackertich had a remarkable and adventurous life. Educated at St. Xavier’s College in Calcutta, India, he graduated in 1943 with a degree in Economics before moving to England where he taught at British prep schools Rhyl (Wales) and Huntingdon. An athlete all of his life, Alex was a capable midfielder on a Welsh first division Rhyl side (soccer) that played at fabled old Trafford Stadium in Manchester before meeting the love of his life, Johanne Hansen of Kongsted, Denmark in London in 1952. The young couple headed off to the United States to get married in Fairfield, CT where Alex obtained his Master’s degree (Fairfield University) before achieving his Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. His world travels included a graduate school grant that had him visiting, assessing and comparing the educational systems in Cold War Moscow, Tokyo, Singapore, Hong Kong, Calcutta and Scandinavia. A natural teacher and life-long learner, Alex spent the majority of his career teaching at Westfield State after beginning his career as a professor at the Western Oregon University in Monmouth, OR. Alex loved learning, spoke 4 languages fluently and took on-line undergraduate courses well into his 90s. He loved fitness and sports including golf and most notably tennis, where he gained a top 10 in New England senior division ranking. He coached soccer and taught tennis in Westfield for many years. He enjoyed discussing culture, history and current events. Alex’s passion for life and devotion to his family, which always came first to him, inspired us all and will be sorely missed but not forgotten. A private memorial will be held at later date. Donations in Alexander’s name may be directed to the Friends of the Library c/o Friends of the Athenaeum, 6 Elm Street, Westfield, MA 01085 or to the American Cancer Society, 330 Whitney Ave. Holyoke, MA  01040. www.firtionadams.com

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