Maclean Macleod, 1923-2013
Murdoch Maclean “Mac” Macleod, the well-known piper and piping event organizer and association leader, died on September 21, 2013, at the age of 89, in Newark, Delaware, following a battle with heart disease.
Maclean Macleod was born on October 18, 1923, in Ullapool in the north of Scotland. In World War II he participated in 33 missions with the Royal Air Force, and after the war he pursued a career in forestry. In 1956 he and his family immigrated to the United States, where he was a co-founder of the highly successful Fairhill Colonial Highland Gathering, with which he served as convener or president for 50 years.
Much of his life was committed to piping, and was a founding member of the Eastern United States Pipe Band Association, by membership and geography the world’s largest piping and drumming organization. He also started the United States Piping Foundation, whose annual USPF competition for many years was a qualifier for the Glenfiddich Piping Championships, where, in 1995, he was awarded the Balvenie Medal for his services to piping world. The EUSPBA inducted Mac Macleod into its Circle of Honor.
The family has asked that, instead of flowers, those who wish to may make a donation in his memory to a new Maclean Macleod Memorial Scholarship Fund organized by the United States Piping Foundation: Attn: Maclean Macleod Memorial Scholarship Fund, 735 Michell Street, Ridley Park, PA 19078-3721 USA.
A memorial service and reception is planned for Saturday, October 26, 2013, at 1 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 292 West Main Street, Newark, Delaware.
A true loss to the piping community. His heart, head and intellect (all of which were HUGE) was dedicated to raising the standard of piping on this side of the Atlantic. He will be missed but never forgotten.
One of the most delightful men in piping. Wicked wit, and a man of great importance in US piping. Significant loss to our world.