Chrales W. Mackey; Museum chief
Hyfler/Rosner
November 4, 2003 Tuesday
HEADLINE: Chrales W. Mackey, 1916-2003: Museum chief oversaw growth
BYLINE: CRAIG BASSE
During more than three decades with the Museum of Fine Arts, Mr. Mackey
raised millions of dollars.
ST. PETERSBURG - He was a banker who loved baseball. He was a soldier who
coded secret messages for Gen. Douglas MacArthur and once played jazz piano
with Lionel Hampton.
Yet Charles W. Mackey perhaps will be best remembered in St. Petersburg as
the retired president of the venerable Museum of Fine Arts.
Mr. Mackey, who stepped down as the museum's leader in 1998, died Sunday
(Nov. 2, 2003) at his home. He was 87. After relinquishing an active role,
he continued to serve as the museum's chairman emeritus and attended board
meetings for about a year, said Carol Upham, who succeeded him as the
museum's chairman and president.
"He had a deep devotion to the museum," Upham said Monday. "He was on the
board since the very beginning and led the way for a second expansion of the
museum. He certainly had shown me the way here. His spirit lives on and I
will miss him."
Except for his aunt, the legendary Margaret Acheson Stuart, Mr. Mackey did
more to shape the destiny of the Museum of Fine Arts than anyone.
During more than three decades on the board of trustees, he oversaw two
expansions, raised millions of dollars and guided the institution along a
conservative path of growth.
"At first, I joined the board in 1965 because my aunt was so shy," the
retired business executive said in 1998. "She couldn't run a meeting."
But she could launch a museum. It was her $1-million donation that built the
original Palladian building and created an endowment.
It was she who persuaded the city of St. Petersburg to donate 41/2
waterfront acres to the museum, which opened in 1965.
Mrs. Stuart died in 1980. Mr. Mackey and his wife, Phoebe Dann Mackey,
subsequently donated hundreds of thousands of dollars and many volunteer
hours to the museum.
Charles William Mackey was born in Franklin, Pa. He attended Lawrenceville
Preparatory School and Yale University.
A St. Petersburg resident before World War II, he became prominent in
business, professional and civic affairs.
Early in his career he was associated with Union Trust and in 1969 was
elected to the board of directors of Florida National Bank and First Federal
Savings & Loan Association.
He was former president of Holiday Isles Broadcasting Co., which operated
radio station WILZ at Port-o-Call until 1969.
He was a charter member of the Suncoasters, which produces the annual
Festival of States, and a vestryman at St. Peter's Episcopal Church.
Although an avid Pittsburgh Pirates fan, he served on the board of directors
of the minor-league St. Petersburg Cardinals. As a member of the Bat Boys
Club, he traveled each year to St. Louis for the major league team's games.
For several years he was among sponsors of the annual Governor's Baseball
Dinner, which drew baseball executives, managers, coaches, players and state
officials.
Mr. Mackey was a charter member of the Polywogs, a group of professional and
business men who sponsored the St. Petersburg Women's Golf Open.
He also held memberships in the St. Petersburg Yacht Club and Vinoy Club and
St. Petersburg Quarterback Club and Squires Club.
In the dying days of World War II, he found himself in Manila, a staff
sergeant and the non-commissioned officer in charge of MacArthur's code
room. On Aug. 13, 1945, a message was sent down for transmission by Teletype
from the supreme commander.
As with all MacArthur's communications with the Japanese in those days, this
one was notable for clarity, but lacked warmth and fuzziness:
"To the Japanese Empire, to the Imperial Government, to the Imperial General
Headquarters," it began.
"I have been designated as the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers -
U.S., China, U.K. and U.S.S.R. - and empowered to arrange . . . "
This was the message that ultimately set up the formal surrender on
battleship Missouri.
Mr. Mackey kept a copy of the message and framed it on one wall of his home.
Another brush with fame came in his youth.
"When he was in college and young he would go into (New York) city," his
daughter, Fay Nielsen, of St. Petersburg, recalled. "He loved to go to all
the nightclubs. One time Lionel Hampton was playing and he got up on stage
and played with him. It was a pretty big thing."
Her father, she said, had taken piano lessons but could not read music. "He
was just very musical."
Mr. Mackey's wife of 58 years and a member of a pioneer family, died in
1999. Survivors beside his daughter include two grandchildren, Paige and
Beth Nielsen, both of St. Petersburg.
A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Peter's Episcopal
Cathedral, 140 Fourth St. N. The family will receive friends after the
service in the parish hall.
The family suggests memorial contributions be sent to the Museum of Fine
Arts, 255 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, or the church. John S.
Rhodes, East Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.