It is with great sadness the Mack family announces Cameron (Cam) Mack passed away unexpectedly in Victoria, BC on May 28, 2016 at the age of sixty-three. Cam was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta where he attended Lord Beaverbrook High school before beginning his post-secondary education at the University of Calgary. In 1974, Cam married the love of his life, high school sweetheart Lorraine, and began a marriage that would last for forty-two years. After three years at the University of Calgary, Cam was accepted into Law School at the University of Alberta and graduated, with distinction, in 1977 before being called to the Alberta Bar in 1978. Cam’s legal career began at Mackimmie Matthews, where he eventually served as a partner. In 1999, he joined forces with his friend from law school, Michael Smith, and spent the remainder of his career as a partner with the Calgary law firm Smith Mack Lamarsh before retiring this year. As a lawyer in Calgary for over thirty-four years, Cam developed a reputation as an unfailingly kind, helpful, honest, and hard-working community member with great integrity. He touched the lives of countless individuals. This well-earned reputation was reflected in 1997 when Cam was awarded the Rotary Club of Calgary’s Integrity Award. In fact, Cam was the recipient of numerous community and professional awards, distinctions, and accolades during his life. Although each of those was well-deserved, Cam’s sincerely humble and selfless nature generally resulted in him downplaying the majority of his achievements and avoiding any attempts to accept the praise which he was consistently due. In addition to his professional life, Cam was a man of faith and an avid volunteer who supported many local causes in Calgary and Victoria such as Alcoholics Anonymous, the Mustard Seed Street Ministry in Calgary, the Special Needs Ministry at Centre Street Church in Calgary, and (most recently) Victoria Hospice. Without question, Cam was well-loved and respected by all those who knew him. Cam was also a master of trivia and a highly knowledgeable connoisseur of great music and he was able to pass this attribute to his children. He also loved playing the guitar and often looked back fondly to his time as a member of the Calgary cover band The Empty Calories. Cam also passed his love of the outdoors along to his children. He enjoyed hiking, biking, snowshoeing, skiing, and kayaking and swimming in Thetis Lake on Vancouver Island with his grandchildren David and Abby. Cam moved to Victoria, BC with his wife Lorraine in 2012 and was in the process of beginning his well-deserved retirement.
The most important part of Cam’s life was his family and he made no secret of how much he loved his wife, his children, and his grandchildren whom he loved and felt great pride. Cam will be loved, remembered, and missed eternally by his wife of 42 years, Lorraine; his sons Kyle (Nazeli) and Kevin (Kathy) Mack; his daughter Julia Mack; his grandchildren David, Abby, and future grandchild due in June. He is also survived by his sisters Diane (Darryl) Smith and Maureen Cotton; his mother-in law Henriette Moir; sisters and brothers-in-law Carol and Peter Emerson, Susan and Don Quinn, Brian and Jacquie Moir, James Moir and Bruce and Lydia Moir, and numerous nieces and nephews. Cam was predeceased by his father, Harry Gordon Mack, his mother, Leona Margaret Mack, and his father-in-law, David Alexander Moir.
For those wishing to remember Cam as he would have wanted, we invite you to reflect upon one of Cam’s favourite quotations:
“Years ago my mother used to say to me, she’d say, ‘In this world, Elwood, you must be’ – she always called me Elwood- ‘In this world, Elwood, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant.’ Well for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. You may quote me.” Elwood P. Dowd (Jimmy Stewart)
Details of Cam’s memorial service (likely to take place in Calgary during mid-summer) will be announced once they are finalized.
In lieu of flowers, the Mack family asks that donations, in the name of Cam Mack, be made to either the Victoria Hospice (Victoria, BC) or the Special Needs Ministry at the Centre Street Church in Calgary.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall’s Funeral Home
www.mccallbros.com
34 Responses
Lorraine and family,
I was so sorry to hear of Cam’s passing. I had not seen Cam since my departure from MacKimmie Matthews in 1993, but in reading the obituary, it is a wonderful tribute to the man I remembered. I know he will be sorely missed.
I’ve known Cam professionally for my entire career, and ironically our paths have crossed for generations among our family’s. Many of these connections I have only discovered while bumping into him in the grocery line. Cam has been a reliable source of rationale thought for our firm for decades. I’d like to think that this is unique in a world where lawyers change firms and companies change lawyers like they change their suits. Cam always brought his A game to the table – prepared and knowledgeable. At witness to times when counterparties would have exchanged in heated debate, you just couldn’t with Cam as he ALWAYS behaved as a perfect gentleman. It was always reassuring to know Cam, a truly remarkable lawyer and absolute professional was on your team. My deepest sympathy for your loss of a truly great man and extraordinary lawyer.
Having known Cam for many years personally and professionally, I accepted his proposal to join our law firm in 1999 with no hesitation at all. Our subsequent working relationship and our continuing friendship proved we were both correct.
There are insufficient words in the Universe to express the extent of this loss, to Cam’s family, to me, to our firm and to the community at large. Men like Cam cannot be replaced. We can but follow his example as we may be able, to serve our community, support our friends and business associates and to do as Cam has done, leave this complex world a much better place having done so.
Cam gave of himself whenever he was needed and no matter the extent of the need. A good man to be remembered always.
We are deeply saddened by Cam’s passing. We was a true gentleman and a fine friend. We will miss him.
This is a tragic loss! Cam had quickly become a beloved volunteer at Victoria Hospice. His kindness, thoughtfulness, and willingness to help wherever he was needed made him a valued member of our team. He will be missed.
I was so shocked and saddened to learn of Cam’s passing. My sincerest condolences to Cam’s family.
Lorraine and family,
My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
I am heartbroken to learn of the passing of my dear cousin, Cam, for myself and our extended family, but especially for Lorraine, Kyle, Kevin and Julia. I am so sorry for your loss and pain.
Know that we are all thinking of you and wishing you peace in the warm memories of the lovely and generous person we all knew your father to be.
Dear Lorraine and Family.
My sincerest condolences and sympathy on the passing of Cam your beloved husband, father and grandfather. You have lost a very special person,”one of the good guys,”and it’s going to take time to ease your sadness. I had the honor of having Cam as a legal adviser and friend for 30 years. He will be missed in so many ways.
Sincerely, Vern Olson
To Lorraine and family,
My sincere condolences and best wishes to you all, especially in this really difficult time, but also beyond. I have counted Cam as one of my good friends for many years, since I met him in 1980 in Calgary – we did not see each other often, particularly in recent times, but always picked up where we left off……..I shall miss him.