Edward Hemond Mackenzie, III, (Ed) the son of Edward H. Mackenzie, Jr. and Wilhelmina Breitenwischer, was born on 24 Apr 1941 in Washington DC, and died on 26 Apr 2012 in Hemet, Riverside Co., CA, at the age of 71. A service was held and burial took place at Turner & Stevens Live Oak Memorial Park on 30 Apr 2012. Ed is the second great-grandson of George Ross Mackenzie (1820-1892) who was born in Duthil & Rothiemurchus, Inverness, Scotland, and immigrated to the U.S. in 1846. George Ross Mackenzie, fourth president of Singer Sewing Machine Company, crisscrossed the Atlantic 55 times on company business, and sent his five sons and...
Edward Hemond Mackenzie, III, (Ed) the son of Edward H. Mackenzie, Jr. and Wilhelmina Breitenwischer, was born on 24 Apr 1941 in Washington DC, and died on 26 Apr 2012 in Hemet, Riverside Co., CA, at the age of 71. A service was held and burial took place at Turner & Stevens Live Oak Memorial Park on 30 Apr 2012.
Ed is the second great-grandson of George Ross Mackenzie (1820-1892) who was born in Duthil & Rothiemurchus, Inverness, Scotland, and immigrated to the U.S. in 1846. George Ross Mackenzie, fourth president of Singer Sewing Machine Company, crisscrossed the Atlantic 55 times on company business, and sent his five sons and a nephew to take charge of key Singer operations around the globe. Ed's father, Edward H. Mackenzie Jr. (1913-2002), held a law degree from the University of Virginia and served as a Special Agent for the FBI under J. Edgar Hoover until retiring in 1963.
In 1959 Ed graduated from Pasadena High School and went on to graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland in 1964. He served as a Naval Officer during the Vietnam War from 1964 to 1973 where he was assigned to the U.S. Naval Advisory Group in Saigon, and later to the Naval Regional Procurement Office in Los Angeles. He was awarded several commendations and medals. After his active military service, he chose a career in aerospace, working on such programs as nuclear submarines, military and civilian aircraft, and the International Space Station. He retired in 2002 from Program Management with Honeywell, Defense and Space in Torrance, CA.
During retirement, Ed continued an active presents at the local AYSO and with Valley-Wide Recreation Youth Baseball. Sometimes coaching and always encouraging the children and their parents. He joined the Hemet Police Department Volunteer Program, took up model railroading, and was a member of the First Baptist Church.
Ed lived his life with integrity, high ethical and moral standards and extreme bravery. He showed strength and love right up until his last day. He stands as a shining example to the young men of the rising generation to emulate his example and imitate his sterling qualities and virtues. Always true, a constant credit to his heritage and his training, he exemplified the fullest meaning of "An Officer and a Gentleman".
He is survived by his wife, Carrie, three sons, one daughter, two step-sons and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister.