Obituary

John Mackenzie

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of John Duncan Mackenzie on January 18th, 2024, after a courageous battle with colon cancer.

John was born on March 9, 1950, in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, to Marshall and Barbara Mackenzie.

John attended university at The University of British Columbia where he studied Engineering Physics, and Metallurgical Engineering. After graduating he moved to Toronto and worked as Senior Engineer for Pipeline Design and Construction in the head office of TransCanada Pipelines.

John met his future wife Gae, in Toronto, when introduced by a mutual friend. They had one daughter, Katherine. As the only child, John cherished his daughter, Katherine.  The young family moved to Connecticut when John became the Manager of Engineering and Operations for Iroquois Gas Transmissions. They built a home in Greenwich and enjoyed exploring their neighborhood and New York City.

The family moved back to Canada where John returned to work with his former employer, TransCanada Pipelines, this time in Calgary Alberta.  John held various positions in the Engineering and Technology wings of TCPL; he studied stress corrosion problems and was passionate about pipeline safety among other things.

After 25 years of his professional life dedicated to TransCanada Pipelines, John and his family relocated to Bellingham, Washington, where they set down roots and made it their home. He ventured into entrepreneurship with the establishment of Direct Assessment Partners and later, NorthAm Energy Solutions. Additionally, he contributed his skills to Keifner and Associates where he was Senior Principal Engineer. John was also a member of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and an editor for their pipeline engineering publication, leaving his mark on the professional world.

Outside of work, John found joy in travel, hiking adventures, quality time with family and friends, exquisite dining experiences, and savouring a good glass of wine. John was a kind and caring man; he made friends effortlessly and was an incredible companion to all who had the pleasure of knowing him.

John is survived by his loving wife, Gae Mackenzie, his devoted daughter, Katherine Mackenzie, and his sister, Carol (Charles) Ludgate. He will also be remembered fondly by his cousins, and numerous friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to be made to a cancer research center of your choosing, honoring John’s memory and contributing to the ongoing fight against this disease.

May John rest in peace, leaving behind a legacy of love, friendship, and cherished moments.