gmhTODAY 13 gmhToday March April 2017 | Page 74

Before the sporting company Nike created its famous slogan , Rich Mackie , 78 , already adopted it as his way of life . “ My father always instilled in me , ‘ Just do it ,’” Rich said . Rich has been , just doing it , ever since .

Rich ’ s business accomplishments include owning three drug stores , a distribution trucking company , and a local newspaper ( which was bought by the Gilroy Dispatch ). Over the years , he has been a member of the Board of Directors for both the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce and Gilroy Garlic Festival Association , and a Rotarian for over 30 years .
Rich spent his early years growing up on a 300-acre farm in British Columbia before his father , Jim Mackie , moved the family to Seattle when Rich was 15 . “ Canada was a little different culture than a metropolitan area ,” said Rich .
Two years later the Mackie ’ s moved to Kooski , a rural area in Idaho , where his father had purchased a hotel and bar . While the rest of the family resided in the master suite of the hotel , Rich lived in a room of his own , complete with maid service . This perk came with responsibilities like the daily stocking and cleaning of the bar before heading off to school . His class of 12 students preferred practical jokes over their studies . “ Somebody would stick a big wad of gum on the potbelly stove and stink the whole place up , so we had to leave ,” Rich said , then added , with a grin , “ Maybe I threw a wad of gum on the stove .”
The education level of Kooski High was less than adequate , and , in large part , the reason Rich feels he was nearly dismissed from college at the end of his freshman year . “ My problem was I really graduated from high school with a ninth grade education ,” Rich said . Rich ’ s friendship with the university ’ s Dean of Pharmacy allowed him to continue at the school , when the Dean overrode the dismisal .
Rich notes that his sophomore year was much more productive and his studies reflected that .
In 1962 , Rich married his high school sweetheart , Shirley Graham , and by the time he graduated in 1963 , he and Shirley were the parents of two children , Devin and Vicky .
Tragedy struck when Vicky was born with lower body muscle hypertonia , leaving her with one-third the normal amount of muscle fiber from the waist down . “ When she was born the pediatrician told us to bring her home , and love her , because she would probably die before the year was up ,” Rich said . Years of treatment and operations followed . Today , Vicki is married , and the mother of two , and her father could not be happier . “ Her getting married was an amazing thing for me ,” Rich said , adding , “ I have two granddaughters , which I never thought would happen .”

My father always instilled in me , ‘ Just do it ,’” Rich said . Rich has been , just doing it , ever since .
In the fall of 1963 , after his graduation , Rich and his father took a road trip to California . On their visit to Gilroy , Rich secured a pharmacist position at Wentz Pharmacy , a landmark establishment located in the heart of downtown at the corner of Fifth Street and Monterey . “ I can remember , to leave the store and go to the bank on the corner , it took about twenty minutes . Although there were probably only 5000 people , you virtually knew everybody ,” Rich said .
He recalled one ongoing situation during his 10 years of ownership of the pharmacy involving the town judge . His secretary frequently would race over in a panic requesting Rich ’ s help in sobering up the judge so he could hold court . “ Gilroy was full of characters , and you knew them all ,” Rich said , adding , “ He was certainly one of them .”
Around the mid 70s , Rich noticed a shift to the West side of town , away from Monterey Street , and in 1976 , he closed Wentz Pharmacy . “ It was a traumatic thing because it was an old drug store , and people pleaded with me not to do it ,” Rich said .
Another change took place for Rich , in 1977 he and Shirley divorced and Rich was awarded full custody of the children . “ I was Mr . Mom ,” Rich said , smiling .
Soon after , he closed his other business , deciding it was time for something new . “ I was thinking about going to law school when a friend of mine , Wayne Carlton , talked me into real estate ,” Rich said . It turned out to be a lucrative decision . He ’ s now the Senior Certified Associate at Coldwell Banker Commercial in Morgan Hill .
His new career also led him in an unexpected direction . After 20 years of the single life , Rich married again . Jeanne Costas , a divorced mother of two , worked full-time at St . Mary ’ s School and supplemented her income by working as a real estate agent at Carlton Realty , where Rich worked .
Jeanne immediately knew they would make a perfect match . “ He ’ s a wonderful human being , very kind , very mellow ,” Jeanne said . “ I ’ m very hyper , and so we balance each other out .” The couple worked together , then dated for several years before marrying on October 11 th , 1997 . This October marks their 20 th anniversary .
Jeanne credits their 20 years of marital success to faith . “ We both have the same faith in God , and it ’ s very important ,” Jeanne said . With tears welling , and a catch in her throat , she added , “ I really think that we were meant to be together , and that our love and blessings in life is all from God .”
Although Rich believes his life ’ s motto continues to be , “ just do it ,” Jeanne feels , it should be , “ listen to my wife , or it won ’ t get done .”
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GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN MARCH / APRIL 2017 gmhtoday . com