Obituary for Harrison D Mackey
Harrison “Chip” D. Mackey, age 66, passed away at home on Monday June 6, 2022 surrounded by his family. Chip had fought a grueling battle with prostate cancer the last 2+ years.
A resident of Rochester for the last 39 years Chip was born and raised in Dover NH. He had a childhood full of love and fun, spending time playing with his cousins and siblings on Dover Point. Chip attended UNH where he was a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity. Working at the MUB PUB on campus he got to know his love and future wife Ann. They were married a few years later and celebrated 41 years last August.
Chip was a loving husband and devoted father to Allison and Nicole. He never missed an event they participated in including dance, band, and many games and competitions. He grew to love softball more than either of his daughters, starting as an enthusiastic spectator he soon became a rec coach then travel coach and finally a high school and tournament umpire. Chip loved being part of the softball community, he enjoyed umping games and many summer weekends over the years, until the cancer made it too difficult, were spent on a softball field.
Also a wonderful Grampa, he took every opportunity to spend time with his 2 granddaughters. They even replaced his daughters as his favorite thing to brag about. Once while babysitting in Brooklyn he spent the entire day walking around with Gemma just so people could stop and tell him how cute she was- he agreed every time! Mallory often played coy with her Grampa and when she would finally acknowledge him with a big hug he would light up!
Besides his family Chip loved to travel. He and Ann enjoyed wandering through new cities, rarely agreeing on the best route, whether on foot or in the car. It became a standing joke but never changed. He also liked trying new restaurants and was one of the things he missed most when the combination of cancer and covid made it impossible to go places.
Luckily he was able to continue to ski up to January. He was passionate about skiing which he gave up when his girls took to ice skating and synchronized skating competitions took up the winter months. But once he had time he was back on the slopes every chance he got. He cherished being able to travel to Colorado to visit Nicole and ski the Rockies – a dream come true. This past winter he was able to witness and help his granddaughters their first time skiing, something he had always dreamed they would enjoy together.
Out of college Chip worked at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard as a nuclear pipefitter for 15 years. After which he worked for the NH Dept. of Environmental Services, retiring from the Drinking Water Monitoring Program at end of 2020. He also served on the board of Associations of Board Certification in several roles, including president.
Chip is survived by his beloved wife Ann, his loving daughters; Allison and husband Sebastian Touzet of Lynnfield MA, Nicole and wife Sarah Dufort of Santa Fe NM, granddaughters Gemma and Mallory Touzet. And his sister Lynda Hamilton and husband Donald of Sanford ME, brother Jay Mackey and wife Susan of Dover NH. Also his brother-in laws and their spouses; Paul Francis & Linda, John Scanlon & Sarah, Edward Scanlon & Corrine, Michael Scanlon & Kim, David Scanlon, along with several cousins, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents Harrison and Joyce Mackey. He will be dearly missed by many.
Calling hours will be Monday June 13, 2022 from 4:00 – 6:00PM at Wiggin Purdy Funeral Home, Central Ave Dover NH. A funeral mass will follow on Tuesday June 14, 2022, 11:00 AM at St Mary Catholic Church located 71 Lowell St Rochester NH.
If you would like to honor Chip a donation in his name can be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through this link www.dana-farber.org/gift or to NH Catholic Charities. https://www.cc-nh.org/donate/
A resident of Rochester for the last 39 years Chip was born and raised in Dover NH. He had a childhood full of love and fun, spending time playing with his cousins and siblings on Dover Point. Chip attended UNH where he was a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity. Working at the MUB PUB on campus he got to know his love and future wife Ann. They were married a few years later and celebrated 41 years last August.
Chip was a loving husband and devoted father to Allison and Nicole. He never missed an event they participated in including dance, band, and many games and competitions. He grew to love softball more than either of his daughters, starting as an enthusiastic spectator he soon became a rec coach then travel coach and finally a high school and tournament umpire. Chip loved being part of the softball community, he enjoyed umping games and many summer weekends over the years, until the cancer made it too difficult, were spent on a softball field.
Also a wonderful Grampa, he took every opportunity to spend time with his 2 granddaughters. They even replaced his daughters as his favorite thing to brag about. Once while babysitting in Brooklyn he spent the entire day walking around with Gemma just so people could stop and tell him how cute she was- he agreed every time! Mallory often played coy with her Grampa and when she would finally acknowledge him with a big hug he would light up!
Besides his family Chip loved to travel. He and Ann enjoyed wandering through new cities, rarely agreeing on the best route, whether on foot or in the car. It became a standing joke but never changed. He also liked trying new restaurants and was one of the things he missed most when the combination of cancer and covid made it impossible to go places.
Luckily he was able to continue to ski up to January. He was passionate about skiing which he gave up when his girls took to ice skating and synchronized skating competitions took up the winter months. But once he had time he was back on the slopes every chance he got. He cherished being able to travel to Colorado to visit Nicole and ski the Rockies – a dream come true. This past winter he was able to witness and help his granddaughters their first time skiing, something he had always dreamed they would enjoy together.
Out of college Chip worked at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard as a nuclear pipefitter for 15 years. After which he worked for the NH Dept. of Environmental Services, retiring from the Drinking Water Monitoring Program at end of 2020. He also served on the board of Associations of Board Certification in several roles, including president.
Chip is survived by his beloved wife Ann, his loving daughters; Allison and husband Sebastian Touzet of Lynnfield MA, Nicole and wife Sarah Dufort of Santa Fe NM, granddaughters Gemma and Mallory Touzet. And his sister Lynda Hamilton and husband Donald of Sanford ME, brother Jay Mackey and wife Susan of Dover NH. Also his brother-in laws and their spouses; Paul Francis & Linda, John Scanlon & Sarah, Edward Scanlon & Corrine, Michael Scanlon & Kim, David Scanlon, along with several cousins, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents Harrison and Joyce Mackey. He will be dearly missed by many.
Calling hours will be Monday June 13, 2022 from 4:00 – 6:00PM at Wiggin Purdy Funeral Home, Central Ave Dover NH. A funeral mass will follow on Tuesday June 14, 2022, 11:00 AM at St Mary Catholic Church located 71 Lowell St Rochester NH.
If you would like to honor Chip a donation in his name can be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through this link www.dana-farber.org/gift or to NH Catholic Charities. https://www.cc-nh.org/donate/