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
I had the good fortune of meeting, and working with, Cam as a junior lawyer starting my career at MacKimmie Matthews. From the moment I met Cam, it was obvious that he was a true gentleman and consummate professional. As I got to know Cam, he became not only a mentor, but also a friend. Through Cam’s guidance and tutelage I was provided with an example of the type of lawyer, and person, that I aspired to be; Cam personified a unique blend of integrity, compassion and civility. I have often referred back to those formative discussions with Cam to guide me throughout my career. Cam will be dearly missed by all of those whose lives he touched. My sincere and deepest condolences go out to all of Cam’s family.
Our hearts go out to you in your time of sorrow. Cam was a true gentleman in a world of few! He always made everyone comfortable no matter the situation. Cam’s humor and silky smooth oration were truly gifts that made him such a wonderful person! Above all, Cam was a friend that always was there! We were so fortunate to have him in our lives!
I had the pleasure and good fortune of being one of Cam’s corporate clients for over twenty years and, during that time, came to know him both professionally as well as personally. Cam was one of the finest men I have ever known, and his untimely passing is a great loss for all of us. His life and all that he accomplished in it helped to make the world a better place, and I will always cherish my memories of him. I would like to extend my most sincere condolences to his wife and family as I know how deeply Cam loved and was loved.
Cam was a lovely very kind man, always very helpful, when I was working with him, when he was volunteering, on the Victoria Hospice unit. My thoughts love and prayers go out to Cam and all his family.
I’m so sorry to hear of your loss. He was a kind man and a friendly face at MacKimmie Matthews. I wasn’t one to baby sit much, but when Mr. Mack asked I was happy to do so. Our loss is Heaven’s gain.
I was blessed to have known Cam during the last few months of his life and he was as true a genteman as any I have known. His family was always in his heart and he spoke of them often especially his daughter. It was an honor Cam. God bless you.
I had the good fortune to meet Cam at University in 1974: of the highlights of attending law school in Edmonton. Since that time, it has been a privilege knowing him and Lorraine for over 40 years.
One of my earliest memories of Cam was his claim-to-fame of having worked with Diamond Joe White on a municipal crew during a summer job. No doubt this inspired Cam’s musical pursuits in later life. In addition to his musical background, Cam would attend at annual golf “fun” tournaments during his early years of legal practice in Calgary. I can say without hesitation that as a golfer, Cam was an excellent lawyer with a good sense of humour.
Cam was known for his compassion and integrity, and always made time to help other people. He was the voice of reason in life and law. His life experience and moral strength made him the “go-to” guy for advice, direction and knowledge which he would generously share with friends and colleagues.
He will be missed.
Our thoughts and condolences to Lorraine and family.
Brett & Paula Webber
Dear Lorraine and family
I am so sorry to learn of Cam’s passing. My thoughts are with you.
I wish I could have had one last chat with him. We tried hard to stay in touch after we got to know each other through Grant McKibben even though I was in Toronto and he was in Calgary. I think we bonded that fateful Christmas season after Grant had been diagnosed with serious cancer but wanted to continue on with the gigs he had booked for The Empty Calories. The “show must go on!” So I flew out and sat in with the band and sang a few backup vocals and played a bit of harmonica. And we had a great time. Cam was a really fine friend. I am going to miss him. Rock on, Buddy. Best to the family. I hope to meet you all someday.
Dear Lorraine & Family,
I was deeply shocked and saddened to hear of Cam’s passing.
I met Cam soon after moving to Victoria and we quickly developed a wonderful friendship.
I feel truly blessed to have had the opportunity to spend time with Cam and call him my friend. Always willing to give of himself for others, he had such a unique way of making people see the positive side of life. I am a better person for having known him.
I will miss him dearly.