Obituary of Milton R. McGuire

Milton (Mac) Robert McGuire (91 years) passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in Pasatiempo at about midnight on Friday, September 24th. Mac was born in Hartford, Conn. on July 16th, 1919, the oldest child of James Louis McGuire and Ellen J. McGuire. Mac graduated from MIT in Mathematics in 1941 and in 1962 he obtained a masters degree in mathematics at Stanford University. He worked as an engineer, starting his career w/ Sperry Gyroscope, moving to Cooper- Bessemer, where he sold diesel engines, then GE Corp. and then finishing as an aeronautical Engineer for Lockheed in Sunnyvale, CA. Mac had a top secret security clearance and helped design missile propulsion systems during the cold war and also helped design the first generation of Satellites. Mac is survived by his second wife and loving companion, Mary Brobst McGuire, his four children, Susan Bennet of Gardnerville, James McGuire in America Samoa, Bruce McGuire of Santa Cruz his twin brother Clifford McGuire from Mill Valley, eleven grandchildren, and ten great grandchildren. Mac was predeceased by his first beloved wife of fifty-four years and the mother of his children Marian Flint McGuire. Mac also outlived his younger brother Marshall and his two younger sisters, Claire and Eileen. Some of Mac's favorite past times included reading financial periodicals, golfing, challenging any and all comers at bridge, hearts, or dominoes, or anything that had to do with numbers. Mac was a strong advocate of higher education, self-sufficiency, duty and personal responsibility, subjects he never tired of emphasizing. Mac placed great importance on physical fitness. He lived by example: his heart and lungs were strong, but recently he suffered a number of minor strokes, and a major stroke four weeks prior to his passing. Otherwise, we'd expect him to still be playing golf, taking walks with Mary, and jumping on his stationary bicycle daily. Not many 70 plus year old golfers have two hole-in-ones (holes 15 & 18) at the very difficult Pasatiempo Golf Course, where Mac was a longtime member. Pasatiempo graciously flew their flag at half-mast in honor of his life and in his memory. Mac will be missed by many. He was a good man, a good husband, and a good father an excellent role model for his children, grand children and great grand children. There will be a memorial service for Mac McGuire on Saturday, October 9, 2010 at 11:30 AM at Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel, 1050 Cayuga St., Santa Cruz, CA. 831 423 5721. All are welcome to attend.