Kenneth Walker MacKenzie 1943-2024

It is with great sadness that we announce that Kenneth Walker MacKenzie (Coinneach) passed away suddenly on April 9, 2024 at the Royal Victoria Hospital after a brief illness.

Kenneth is survived by his loving companion Sally Cooper, his children Jennifer and Kimberley (Daniel) and their mother Nancy Oliver. He is fondly remembered by his grandchildren Sasha (Marisa), Vivianne (Arnaud) and Morgan (Afton) as well as his siblings Sheilah (Paul) and Rod, his nieces and nephews Laura, Brian, Julianne and Daniel, and his many MacKenzie and MacWalker cousins.

Born in Saint John, New Brunswick, Kenneth spent his formative years in the Maritime provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. He attended Queen Elizabeth High School in Halifax before continuing his education at Dalhousie University at the young age of 15.  After graduating, he moved to Toronto to teach.  In 1967, Kenneth landed in Montreal to play the bagpipes at the Canadian Pavilion during Expo and to begin graduate studies at McGill in mathematics. Montreal became his home for the next 56 years.

Kenneth had a great impact on many people throughout his life, notably the thousands of students to whom he lectured during his long, illustrious career teaching mathematics. He was a devoted teacher, sharing his love of mathematics with students at Vanier College, Marianopolis College, Kahnawake Survival School, Concordia University and, for over 50 years at McGill University. In recognition of his contribution to McGill, in 2012, he was awarded both the prestigious Principal’s Prize for Excellence in Teaching and the H. Noel Fieldhouse Award for Distinguished Teaching. The latter was awarded to a standing ovation from the Faculty of Arts graduating class. The lessons he imparted on the minds of young and old alike are achievements of a lifetime.

He was an incredibly generous spirit, giving his time and energy to his students and anyone who needed a favour.  He was known for his sense of humour and joie-de-vivre, always ready to find clever wordplay in everything that surrounded him.  He truly enjoyed helping everyone around him however he could.

Kenneth loved music, he mastered the bagpipes as a teenager, and went on to learn multiple other instruments. He delighted his students with his end of year bagpipe demonstrations, and entertained his extended family, and audiences across the country with his piping, his folk music groups and his work as pipe major of two different pipe bands. His involvement in the music scene is greatly appreciated by those who danced to his music, those who saw (and definitely heard) his playing and those who met him in and around the events in which he so vibrantly participated.

His partnership with Sally Cooper remained a positive constant in his life. She stuck with him through thick and thin for many years until the end, ensuring that he maintained as much independence as possible so that he could continue to enjoy the math, music and wordplay around which he built his life.  

Visitation with family will take place on Wednesday, May 1 from 5 pm to 8 pm at the Mount Royal Funeral Complex, 1297 chemin de la Forêt, Outremont. The celebration of Kenneth MacKenzie’s life will be held at the same address on Thursday, May 2 at 10 a.m. Link for the chapel service: https://funeraweb.tv/en/diffusions/89417.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Alzheimer Society, McGill University, or the charity of your choice.