ERIC ‘RIC’ ALAN MACKEY

BRANDON — Eric “Ric” Alan Mackey, 79, completed his final ski race on May 3, 2026. He was born March 26, 1947, in North Adams, Mass. He spent the first nine years of his life living with his parents, Harriett Annetta Gangemi Mackey and Erikki “Stub” Mackey, in Springfield, Vt., along with his brothers Neil and Peter, before moving to Middlebury in 1956.

Ric loved sports, all sports, participating, coaching and watching. While attending Middlebury Union High School, Ric played football, was on the ski team, played baseball and participated in track and field. A life-long love of hunting and fishing began here. Upon graduation from MUHS, he attended Johnson State College, where he continued to participate in athletics, lettering in soccer, skiing and baseball, eventually being inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at Johnson.

Ric’s passion for the outdoors led him to work as a recreation director in various places, he worked for New York Life Insurance company, even using his enthusiasm to commence the annual company golf outing. He spent many years coaching different sports at various levels. His collegiate coaching began in 1986 at St. Michael’s College, where he coached Alpine skiing and women’s soccer, moving on to New England College, Bates College, St. Anselm’s College and then to Killington Mountain School and Okemo Mountain School, and Middlebury Ski Club.

Ric shared his passion for skiing with his family and endless numbers of other people. His dedication to ski coaching merged with his enjoyment of travel, allowing him to visit places like Alaska, Montana, Utah, and ski in the Swiss Alps.

Ric loved hunting and fishing, he shared this love with his brothers, and he passed this on to his children. Ric loved going to Camp Manhattan in November every year and spending time with his brothers and life-long friends hunting, enjoying good food and recounting tales of the hunt of the day and years past.

Ric is pre-deceased by his parents, Annetta and Stub Mackey, and his eldest son, Hunter Mackey. Ric is survived by his children, JJ Mackey (Melissa Greenslit), Nico Mackey (Christine Constant), and Montana Mackey (Gabe Paradiso); their mom, Jill Mackey; daughter-in-law, Samantha Etessse (Hunter Mackey); his brothers and their families, Neil and Kathy Mackey and their children and spouses Judd and Lori Mackey, Emily Mackey and Mike O’Grady; Peter and Sue Mackey and their children and spouses, Kyna and Bart DeVries, Perky and Graham Hubner, Will Mackey and Tully Mackey; his grandchildren Sol Mackey, Hadley Mackey, Oakley Paradiso, Wilder Paradiso, and Jameson Mackey, one on the way, and Greyson Wilbur and Evelyn Wilbur.

Ric leaves many great nieces and nephews as well. Ric is also survived by his very special Camp Manhattan friends, along with his Monday and Friday breakfast club friends.

There will be a celebration of life at a later date for all who wish to attend. Donations in his memory may be made to the American Cancer society or the Middlebury Ski Club.◊