Robert McWilliams

The essence of a life is difficult to capture in words, particularly for a man who valued deeds over words and who led by example. He lived his Christian faith with quiet purpose ?À? serving those in need and choosing justice at every turn. He believed that family was the root of one's legacy in life and he would often ask that we "remember who we represent" as we set out into the world. He was an easy man to love, with his bright eyes and his contagious smile. He brought love, laughter and service to the opportunities and challenges that life presented. He leads by example even now. Robert "Mack" McWilliams was born on a farm in Chatham, Ohio. He was the youngest of three children sisters, Betty Baker and the late Kate Martin. When his father died of Parkinson's Disease, Mack, who was 14 years of age, moved with his family "into town" -- to Granville. He graduated from Granville H.S. in 1946 where he played basketball, sang in the choir, and played the piano and organ. Mack enlisted in the Navy after high school during World War II serving as the Chaplain's Assistant at Great Lakes Naval Training Center. He played the organ for all of the religious services at the center i.e., Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish. He used the GI bill to attend Northwestern University where he earned his bachelor's degree in Business Administration. In 1971, Mack received an Alumni Association Service Award for outstanding service to Northwestern. Mack returned to Ohio to work at the Ohio Bell Telephone Company. He dedicated his entire career of 32 years to Ma Bell where he was in various executive level positions, including, Traffic Manager and Employment Manager. While at Ohio Bell, he was able to extend his love for music and performing. He was a baritone soloist in the Ohio Bell Choir and was a member of an Ohio Bell quartet which frequently performed throughout the region. While at Ohio Bell, Mack met his wife, Kathie, who worked in the Employment Office. They were married in 1957 at Heights Christian Church. Their love and dedication to each other was evident through their 54 years of marriage. A saying hanging in their home beautifully captures their relationship: "Happiness is being married to your best friend." Everyone who knew them described their marriage as a model for all of us to follow. Mack was a dedicated family man who taught his three children a strong work ethic. You worked hard, shared what you had with others, and always gave back to the community. Integrity of purpose in all things was key. Kathie and Mack's three children continue to live out his guidance in their current positions: Scott, Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Physiology at the University of Rhode Island; Doug, Environmental Lawyer at Squire, Sanders & Dempsey; Ellen, Assistant Superintendent in the Akron Public Schools. Mack was also showered with love and affection from 3 beautiful daughter-in-laws, Tess, Jani, and Wendy. He lovingly adored his 7 grandchildren: Ross, Cori, Arden Amber, River, Canyon, Taylor and Bailey. His greatest joy was watching his grandchildren follow their own passions and sharing their talents with the community. Mack loved live theater, music and the arts, and regularly attended and supported the symphony, community and professional theater. He sang with, and personally supported, the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus for 7 years and the Heights Christian Church Choir for 30+ years. He served as an interim organist at Heights Christian Church and was a frequent soloist on Sundays and during special performances. Mack also had a strong belief in civil rights. From working to racially integrate their neighborhood to being one of the first white families to voluntarily bus their children to an elementary school with 98% African American students to desegregate schools, Mack led with quiet strength, passion, and conviction. When his church began resettling Russian refugees who had been persecuted for their religious beliefs, Mack took on a leadership role with other members of the church to embrace the families and walk them through their transition to the United States, including opening up his home as their first "apartment". His open heart and open home spirit also resulted in participating in a program for multiple years throughthe Inner City Protestant Parish called Friendly Town where children from the inner city would spend a 10 day summer vacation with host families to receive enriching educational experiences and for the host families to grow in their understanding of the deeper roots of poverty and racial discrimination. After retirement, Mack again opened his heart and home for the Great Peace March GPM as hundreds of marchers walked from Los Angeles to Washington DC. He participated in segments of the walk and provided financial advising to GPM organizers. His ultimate "open home" move came when he and Kathie welcomed their son's Doug band from the March to live with them for 6 months as they raised funds to participate ina Peace March in Russia. Mack didn't just talk about his beliefs, he acted and sacrificed to live them. Mack believed in giving back to other segments of the community as well. He was President of the Board of the Florence Crittenton Services in Cleveland which serves adolescent girls experiencing significant personal and family struggles. He and his wife were a host family for 15 years for the Cleveland International Program inviting international exchange guests into their home for month-long stays. He also served as a board member and start-up manager of Campbell Court in Shaker Hts. which provides housing for low income senior citizens. He believed in leading by example, particularly for children and teenagers; he was a Boy Scout Troop leader and also a youth leader for many years for mission trips with the TORCH Teen Outreach Through Christian Help organization to Jamaica, Washington D.C., Wyoming, and Appalachia, Kentucky. His ultimate community service came in his last action on this earth. After 28 courageous years living with Parkinson's Disease, he donated his body to the Cleveland Clinic for research and medical education. The family thanks all of those who dedicated their hands and hearts to help Mack with his day-to-day care and who allowed him to find life's joy and humor in the midst of his physical challenges. Mack's love of nature and the environment led him to co-owning with his brother-in-law and sister-in-law John & Martha Ryan a 50 acre farm in Holmes County amid the Amish community. It became a much loved family retreat location for over 30 years where the Ryan/McWilliams family and friends would retreat from their active city involvement to the country to renew their spirits. Church was central to Mack's life. He was an active member at Heights Christian Church taking on leadership roles as a deacon, elder, chairman of the Board, member of finance, outreach and music committees and the Peace Task Force. Mack believed you don't just talk about your religion, but you act out your faith wherever you find yourself. Mack loved life and lived it with a twinkle in his eye and a delightful, dry sense of humor . . . often delivering with a straight face, a one liner at the exact moment causing peals of laughter. He will be sorely missed, but he leaves us with a song in our hearts, a smile on our face, and a direction for fulfilling our lives by working for equality, and peace and justice for all people. Robert R. "Mack" McWilliams, age 83 of Shaker Hts., OH passed away peacefully in his residence on April 29, 2011. Loving husband of Katherine McWilliams nee Ryan; dear father of Scott McWilliams Tess of Kingston, RI, Douglas Jani of Shaker Hts., OH and Ellen McWilliams-Woods Wendy of Kent, OH; cherished grandfather of Ross, Cori, Arden Amber, River, Canyon, Taylor and Bailey; dear brother of Betty Baker and the late Kate Martin; loving relative and friend to many who knew him. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in honor of "Mack" to the "Peace and Justice Fund" of Heights Christian Church, 17300 Van Aken Blvd, Shaker Hts., OH, 44120, where a Celebration of Life service will be held on Thursday, May 5 at 2PM.


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