Mark Francis Macpherson passed away peacefully in his sleep at the age of 90 at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal after a lengthy battle with a blood infection. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, June Macpherson, and sons Robert, Ian, and Myles, and 5 grandchildren, brother to Rod Macpherson and Margot Whitford. He was born in St Thomas, Ontario to father Robert, and mother Maxine Macpherson, but was raised in Winnipeg, MB, where he met June. He graduated in 1956 with a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Manitoba which complemented a lifelong passion for amateur radio and telecommunications. He was a life member of Radio Amateurs of Canada starting in 1979 and also a life member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
After moving to Montreal in 1956, he worked in radio, and later the new field of television with the CBC. Subsequently, he joined RCA and worked in aerospace on satellites and ground tracking stations. Identified as a key management employee at RCA, he was selected for the prestigious Robert A. Sarnoff fellowship and earned a MBA degree in 1971 from Sir George Williams University (now Concordia U). He then joined Esso, Building Products Division in LaSalle, Quebec where he rose to become the VP and General Manager of the division. He continued his career working in his own company selling telecommunications products where he travelled worldwide visiting numerous countries across the globe. Prior to his final retirement, he relocated to Hemmingford, Quebec in 1988, where he served on the board of the Hemmingford Golf Club, started the Covey Hill Amateur Radio Club, and also served a term as a Municipal Counsellor, Township of Hemmingford, QC.
Mark also had a full military career starting as a Signalman in the RCSigs in Manitoba in 1950 during the Korean conflict. He was commissioned in 1952. When his work took him to Montreal, he wanted to be part of an elite unit, and so joined the Canadian Grenadier Guards in 1957 and was appointed the Lieutenant Colonel Commanding from 1965-1968. He continued his association with the regiment from 1968 onwards as a member of the Canadian Grenadier Guards council, was the Honorary Lieutenant Colonel from 1985-1991, and President of both the Guards Club and the Association at various times.
Mark was always noted for his service before self through his passions and many volunteer engagements. He had a long association with the Corps of Commissionaires as a Governor of the Quebec Division, from 1987 onwards and was recognized as one of its longest serving members. He was the First Vice President of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 244 Hemmingford from 1999-2017. In addition, he held the rank of Captain-Lieutenant in the 78th Fraser Highlanders from 2000. He was a Sustaining Member - and former Prior, of the Grand Priory in Canada; former Commander Montreal Commandery: Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem, from 1998 until his passing. His passion for the outdoors and teaching young people led him to start the Cote St Luc Wolf Cub Pack, Scouts Canada in 1965. This in turn steered the family to many canoe and camping trips in various parks and wilderness areas in eastern Canada and the USA, teaching his sons about the outdoors in both summer and winter.
Mark was intrigued with his family history and ancestry, and was a life member of the Clan Macpherson Association - Canada Branch, and served as its President for many years and represented Canada with many trips to Scotland. He also did much research into his family lineage which led him in 1999 to becoming a life member of the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada and the President of its Laurentian Branch in 2004.
On a personal level, he was always known as a staunch family man with unassailable integrity, high intelligence and perseverance. He was respected by friends, co-workers, and all who associated with him in both military and civilian life. He was known as trustworthy and impeccably fair to all, no matter their station in life.
Colleagues, friends and family are invited to pay respects at the Sacred Space of the Beechwood National Memorial Centre, 280 Beechwood Ave. Ottawa on Saturday April 1, 2023 after 1:00p.m. Memorial Service will be held at 2:00p.m. followed by interment at the National Military Cemetery of the Canadian forces at 3:00p.m. and reception.
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