Richard C. MacKinnon

Richard C. MacKinnon passed away on April 24, 2020 at home in the arms of his loving wife and partner Deborah MacKinnon.

Born in 1943 in Newburyport, he graduated from Newburyport High School in 1961. He turned down a full scholarship for track at Northeastern University as his independent spirit took him to California to find work and explore the US. At 16 he was on ‘American Bandstand’ along with three other contestants from Essex County. He was disappointed that the teens only got to dance for two minutes expecting to make his debut.

In 1964 he returned to Newburyport joining the US Navy. After training at Great Lakes, he continued training at Little Creek, VA part of Underwater Demolition Teams 21 & 22 merging with Seal Team 2.

In 1999 he met his life partner Deborah. They moved to Bayside Maine, spending wonderful years there together. As a friend Richard was always there to help, stay busy and involved. His kindness, sense of humor and strong intuition were always with him. He was ‘exceptional’.

He leaves behind a son and a daughter, two sisters Fae Hodge of Bangor, Maine and Mae Ellen Fournier of Hampton, NH as well as many cousins and family living in Newburyport area. Richard was predeceased by his parents Charles O. and Thelma MacKinnon in 2003 and his brother Robert in 2019.

Services to be scheduled at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of the Whittier-Porter Funeral Home of Ipswich. Memorial contributions in his honor may be made to (https://tunnel2towers.org) honoring First Responders and Military Families or (http://thegameloft.org) helping children integrate successfully into adulthood.

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