by Anura Guruge
on August 7, 2022
I got to know Dr. Gerry Mack & his wife Nancy in 2014. That was when all 4 of us (with Teischan but 8 at the time but extremely good at moving chairs) started volunteering for ‘Great Waters‘. It all came about because Devanee (then 13) was given a scholarship by Dr. Mack participate in the ‘Great Waters Festival Chorus’ — which involved a week of full-time instruction & practice. It was a great opportunity & honor for her. She had started singing with ‘Clearlakes Chorale‘ the winter before & some of the folks from that chorale put her name forward to Great Waters. Dr. Mack & Nancy took a special interest in her as she was the youngest member in the 2014 program (& would also be so in 2015 too).
In 2014 & 2015 we saw Dr. & Mrs. Mack nearly every week during the summer. I was a stagehand. One of our duties was to make sure that we always made sure that there was a reserved parking spot for the Macks.
Dr. Mack was kind, jovial & friendly — always with a big smile. I don’t think I saw him this year. On July 27, 2022, I spoke with Nancy Mack, at the Great Water’s Cabaret & inquired after the Doctor. She told me that he wasn’t doing too well. I had no idea that he would be gone within the week. A shame.
I last spoke with Dr. Mack, over the phone, during the Spring of 2106. I was upset that the then management had axed the Festival Chorus — supposedly just for that year. I told Dr. Mack that this was wrong & BAD and that most likely the Festival Chorus will never be reinstated. Sadly, I was right. Well, I won’t go into that now. Great Waters sans the Festival Chorus is NOT what Dr. Mack had founded or foresaw. But, Nancy Mack is on the Board and I will leave it at that.
For now let’s just remember the greatness & kindness of Dr. Mack. He will be missed. I will miss seeing his smiling face.
