Obituary of Graeme F. Mackenzie

Graeme Stuart Ferguson Mackenzie died peacefully on August 9th, surrounded by his loving family. He was 90 years old. Graeme was a longtime resident of the Monterey Peninsula, and owner of the Sandpiper Inn, on Carmel Point, for 25 years. A lover of the great outdoors and all the natural beauty that is so special to Carmel, Pebble Beach and Big Sur, Graeme called the Monterey Peninsula the most magnificent place on earth. He will be truly missed by friends and family, and anyone who knew his warmth and personality. Born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1925, Graeme went to Loretto Boarding School in Edinburgh, trained in the British Royal Air Force as a navigator in World War II, and attended both Cambridge and Glasgow Universities, becoming a Chartered Accountant. He went on to earn Graduate Degrees at the Swiss Hotel School in Lausanne and the School of Hotel Management in Cornell. Graeme started his career at the Dorchester Hotel in London and The Gleneagles Hotel in Scotland, followed by management positions at the Inverurie Hotel in Bermuda and the Greenbriar Resort in West Virginia. Graeme and his first wife, Irene, from Edinburgh, met at a Scottish ball in San Francisco and were married in Carmel in 1957. The couple moved to London and then Hong Kong, when Graeme was hired to open the world's first Mandarin Hotel in 1961. Returning to the Monterey Peninsula in 1966, Graeme became General Manager of the Mark Thomas Inn and then Regional Director for Sheraton Hotels in Dallas. In 1973 Graeme and his family returned to Carmel permanently when he purchased the Sandpiper Inn. In 1998, his dear wife Irene passed away after 42 years of marriage. In 2001 Graeme married Judy Bramble. They have enjoyed a happy, loving and fun filled life together in Pebble Beach, with their many friends and family. Graeme was President of the Monterey Peninsula Scottish Society, and Founder of the Annual Monterey Peninsula Scottish Highland Games, now in it's 48th successful year. An avid sailor, tennis player and golfer, he was a longtime member of the ROMEOS, The Monterey Peninsula Country Club and The Beach and Tennis Club in Pebble Beach. People who knew Graeme always said he had a great passion for life, adventure & most of all, for people. Graeme is survived by his loving wife Judy, son Colin, daughter Fiona, step-children Stacey and Scott, and five step-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his father, Dr. William Ferguson Mackenzie, mother, Jean McIntyre Mackenzie, and brother, Fergus Mackenzie all of the UK. A Celebration of Graeme's life will be held on Sept. 12th at the Church in the Forest, Pebble Beach at 2:00pm. In lieu of flowers please make any donations to the Alzheimer's Association , or to the charity of your choice .