Fred Mackenzie Obituary

Dr. Fred T. Mackenzie, 89, of Honolulu, Hawai'i, a renowned professor, great scientist, scholar, and friend to many worldwide, passed away on January 3, 2024, surrounded by his devoted family after a long and courageous battle with several illnesses.
Fred had an illustrious career that spanned decades. He earned a bachelor's degree in physics and geology from Upsala College in New Jersey and went on to earn a master's degree and PhD in geological sciences and biogeochemistry from Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. Following his PhD and postdoc, Fred worked for the Shell Oil company as an exploration and research geologist before joining the faculty at Northwestern University where he advanced to become full professor and department chair by 1971. He also taught and conducted research at the Bermuda Biological Station, the Université Libre de Bruxelles in Belgium, and the Stareso Marine Laboratory in Corsica.
In 1981, he accepted a position at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa where he continued doing research and teaching in the Oceanography Department's Marine Geology and Geochemistry Division until 2008 when he retired and became a professor emeritus of oceanography. Throughout his years in academia, Fred enjoyed many formal and informal affiliations with other institutions of higher learning including the West Indies Laboratory of Fairleigh Dickinson University, Harvard University, and John Hopkins University.
Earth Sciences, a study of the entire Earth system and the interactions between the land, ocean and atmosphere, was at the forefront of his interests, thoughts and research. He was the author or co-author of over 300 scholarly works and received hundreds of accolades, medals, and awards during his distinguished career. Much has been written about the breadth of his scientific contributions, but he was most proud of founding the Global Environmental Science Program at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, the first of its kind in the United States.
An ardent athlete, avid runner, hiker, scuba diver, mountaineer and prolific reader, Fred's journeys took him from the depths of the oceans to the summits of mountains. He studied the waters of the North Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and trekked the mountains of Patagonia, Bolivia, Africa, Europe, and the United States. A true explorer, he traveled through sixty-eight countries with his beloved wife, Judy. His inquisitive mind went well beyond the sciences. His world was rich, filled with the knowledge of other cultures and a respect for many belief systems. He was a great humanist and a true Renaissance man.
Fred was a treasured friend, respected professor, and mentor to hundreds of students, many of whom he remained close to over the years, and now have their own distinguished careers and have recognized and honored his contributions to their lives.
A thoughtful and considerate listener, Fred's warm and embracing personality was contagious to everyone he met. His smile would ground those around him and reflect back the joy he was feeling.
In the words of a close friend, "Fred is now on his next voyage into star dust. All the love and kindness he has given us will live in our hearts and minds." Fred was kind, compassionate, and unimaginably generous, and will be remembered for the positive impact he had on so many.
Fred cared deeply for his family and cherished the time he spent with them. He is survived by his loving wife, Judith Mackenzie, son Scott Mackenzie, daughter Michelle Bonke, stepdaughter Deborah Munk, granddaughters Ashlyn Mackenzie, Jasmine Bonke, and Chloe Bonke, great-granddaughter Adalyn Yasutake, nephew Kenneth McGrath, and was preceded in death by his sister, Patricia Mackenzie and stepdaughter, Rebecca Munk. We will miss him.
A memorial will be held in early 2024.
Please consider celebrating Fred's life by donating to the Global Environmental Science Program at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa.