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Mac Piercey -- 1918 -2001, Page 2

Mac Piercey

After his discharge in 1946, he went to work with the Newfoundland clothing company in St. John's as a tailor. He took tailoring as an associate trade, then went to Halifax and took upholstery. Now, along with his training for sail making - which he acquired at a sailmaker shop in Portsmouth England - Mac now had a tri-trade. He worked at the US Air force base in Goose Bay - resigning three years later, when he was tired of military life.

After this came a long struggle with Alcohol Addiction. He opened an upholstery shop in Fortune and taught the trade there, but he had more problems than he could cope with.

Mac needed help - he needed a hero - he had to beat this demon. He fought back hard, spending a great deal of money and time at the alcohol addiction centre (The Donwood Institute) in Don Mills Ont. 1973.

From 1973-1979 Mac was dry. He had a couple of breaks in 1979-80

Mac found his hero - he was right there all the time - right inside him, he just got lost in the crowded cities of England and the cold Icy Atlantic waters.

"I missed a lot of years - lots of time - when I should have been gathering memories - to remember." Mac was often heard to say, well, I'll start now.

Mac started his new-found sober life - he made many new memories (he could remember) and many great impressions on people. He had many good qualities

He owned a boat which he called "The Five Brothers" - Mac spent much quality time with his family and friends sailing around the coast.

After retiring - Mac scholarly and philosophical pursued local history and world events. Now his existence in serene.

His devotion to digging into Fortune's past came from visiting old cemeteries and reading old headstones, on his travels.

Both residents and visitors seeking out their roots came to Mac as an authority - on their personal search for the past. He was their hero.

For more than twenty years Mac has not drunk from "the spring of Lethe" and consigned the past to oblivion.

As part of his promise to himself to start a new sober life, Mac started the AA group - Alcoholic Anonymous in Fortune. He wanted to help save men from themselves.

It took a lot of courage to stand before your family, friends and general public and confess that you were an alcoholic - and as a result of alcohol you can lose your dignity at times - along with your family. He wanted other men to see - that yes, they could beat this demon - but - like Mac, they needed help to get started. Mac became their hero.

Mac Piercey

He often spoke to school children and other organized group - telling them about democratic freedoms - and about Social freedoms provided for the benefit and enjoyment of all. You must stay in control of you and your destiny.

Many times when Mac spoke to such groups - kids would come up to him and want to touch his service medals - - they were impressed, and at one such event Mac received a " medal" of sorts from one such admirer.(picture enclosed). He was a hero in her eyes.

Every anniversary or and kind of remembrance service -pertaining to the Caribou and World War II events, you could be sure Mac was there to show he remembered their sacrifice." We were all Newfoundlanders in the Royal Navy - like one big family," Mac would say - and choked with emotion - a tear would fall.

In 1983 Mac was awarded "The Freedom of the Town Award"- A plaque designed to honour War Veterans of Fortune.

Mac was once asked about his speaking voice. It's deep and rich with a roughness revealing too many years of Smoking and Drinking - and a mixture of dialects peculiar to an old salt. "It's all tangled up," he says of his accent. Mac began to develop his unique twang when he joined the Royal Navy.

He didn't receive the purple heart or any such medals for bravery, but was - and still remains a hero - for some of his unique qualities and for memorial deeds and contributions made to others.

In 1998 - 99 Mac was diagnosed with lung cancer, and sent home with a week or two to live. Once again Mac fought back - he refused to have surgery. "I have things left to do yet" he would say.

His quality of life deteriorated - but his sense of humour and sharp wit remained until the end. Mac died - at home with his family on July 30th 2001 one day short of his birthday. Mac leaves to mourn -

Wife - Charlotte (Tot); Daughter - Valerie (Hugh); Step daughter - Linda (Robert); Grandsons - Tamlyn, Mitchell and Stephen; Brothers - Frank (Audrey), Harvey (Phyllis), and Charlie (Mervie); Mother in Law: Elsie Thornhill; plus a large circle of other Relatives and Friends

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CREDITS:The story on Mac Piercey was written by Tiffany Taylor for The Heritage Fair at John Burke, May 2002 from information gathered by observing Mr. Piercey for herself; interviews with his wife; newspapers; and a taped interview with Mr. Piercey and her Uncle Rick some 15 years ago.