​Richard ("Mac") McVicar (1927 – 2018)

Credit: Stefan Falke Photography, New York, http://www.stefanfalke.com

It is with sadness that PAMA shares the passing of Richard ("Mac") McVicar. Mac passed away on Saturday, December 15, 2018.  He was 91.

"Aviation was his life, Mac was talking about retirement but just couldn't do it," said John Stover, Mac's close friend and associate.

Mac grew up in Bergenfield, New Jersey and went into the Navy right after high school.  He held a commercial pilot single and multi-engine land, instrument, ground instructor and A&P certificate, and inspection authorization. He soloed in 1945 and got his A&P in 1947. He worked in the Teterboro area until 1964 when he moved to Randall Airport (06N) and opened up his own maintenance facility (MacVicar Aircraft Service). He was still working the week before his passing.

Mac was a member of PAMA, WAMA and the QB's. He was honored with the FAA Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award and the Teterboro PAMA Chapter Lifetime Achievement Award.
 
"Mac was a down to earth, straight forward, well-respected gentleman," says Clark Gordon, PAMA Secretary/Treasurer. "Humor and wit resonated from Mac. Always with a smile, he would look you in the eye while talking and listening to what you had to say."
 
Mac had deep knowledge of aviation in and around NJ and NY.  "It was always enjoyable to hear the history of airports long closed," said Gordon.

Mac co-wrote “The History of Aviation in Rockland County” published in 2015, and contributed to a website on Rockland airport history. More on Mac's life and contributions are highlighted in a July 2017 write up in AOPA magazine, and a YouTube video of Mac flying over his airport at age 86.
 
The aviation community lost a great man. The PAMA community will miss him.

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