Mack Gillespie December 12, 1928-November 6, 2014
Mack Gillespie was born and raised on Dalton Road. He and his family have been involved with the Camp Highlander property since the original camp buildings were built in the late 1930s. The 240 acres of Camp Highlander has always been home to summer camp children. Originally home to Camp Osceola campers, then Camp Blue Ridge campers, and in 1974 the property became home to Camp Highlander.
Mack Gillespie worked for all 3 camps as young boy, teenager and adult as caretaker of the property, maintenance director, bus driver and “jack of all trades.” Mack was the man to get job done! He knew the ins and outs of every building, the location of every water line, sewage line, electrical box and wells on camp, and of course, how to fix anything that was broken. He was such a gift to the daily operations and safety of our camp family.
In the early 1950’s, Mack’s father, Mr. Albert, was asked to build Camp Highlander a gym. His response was “I don’t know how to build a gym. But I do know how to build a barn.” That is what gives the “Gillespie Gymnasium” its signature look and name. Mack worked with his dad on the construction of the gym, and that gym has all original construction as it stands today.
Mack continued his hard work and daily dedication to Camp Highlander through 1986 as the Head of Maintenance. After the summer of 1986, he retired to a part-time role but continued to work for Camp Highlander as the off-season caretaker, looking in on the property and maintaining the integrity of the buildings for the campers and staff until they returned each summer.
Mack loved this mountain and each and every camper and staff member who was a part of it. He had the incredible ability to remember so many camper and staff member names, special stories about them and how they had impacted his life. But the stories are ten-fold of how Mack has impacted the lives of those campers and staff. Mack was a kind, simple and humble man who always had time to share a cup of coffee and listen to a camper or staff member who wanted to talk. There are many staff members and campers who have come back to Highlander to visit over the years and have stopped in to see Mack because of the impact he had made in their life. He kindness had left a mark and shown them the ONE LOVE of Highlander.
Mack will forever be remembered and honored for his selfless dedication to summer camp and children. Mack lived a simple but full life – same property on Dalton Road all his life, same job at a summer camp, but he had great perspective on the gift of a summer camp experience in the life of a child. He saw thousands of lives changed over the years, and he took great pride and helping make those summers possible. Most recently, our campers will remember Mack driving through camp on his navy blue golf cart with his sister Cora Bell and their little dog Sue. He was always watching over camp, checking in on everyone, as a caretaker always does. We know that Mack is in heaven looking down over Camp Highlander as our great caretaker. We love you Mack!
About Melissa Fitzgerald
