Walter James Mack, M.D., of Southampton, Westhampton Beach and Hope Town, Bahamas Dies April 17

Walter James Mack, M.D., of Southampton, Westhampton Beach and Hope Town, Bahamas, died at his home, surrounded by family, on April 17. He was 90.

Dr. Mack was a graduate of Niagara University and New York Medical College and, in 1992, was named a Fellow in the American College of Radiology. After graduating from medical school, he served eight years in the U.S. Navy, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Commander.

In 1964, Dr. Mack moved his family to Westhampton Beach and joined the Practice of Radiological Health Services at Southampton Hospital, Central Suffolk Hospital, and Eastern Long Island Hospital. In 1974, he became chief of radiology at Southampton Hospital, where he continued until his retirement in 1999.

Dr. Mack was an accomplished pioneer in medicine. Under his leadership, multiple innovative diagnostic modalities were brought to the community of Southampton, including one of the first CAT scan machines in Suffolk County, real time ultrasound, and dedicated mammography. His efforts led to Southampton Hospital’s establishment of the Breast Center. In spite of his many accomplishments, Dr. Mack was known for being humble, as evidenced by as his fond recollection of his kindergarten teacher, who, he said, liked him so much that, “She had me stay with her for a second year.”

In his youth, Dr. Mack was a collegiate swimmer at Niagara University and a Jones Beach lifeguard in the summers. With friends, he was often referred to as “Cap’t Jim” as he held a 100-ton USCG captain’s license. He was one of the first windsurfers on the East Coast of the U.S. He competed in windsurfing regattas throughout the 1970s, and from 1975-1978 held the East Coast Windsurfer championship. Upon winning, he would downplay it saying “well the other two guys fell off their boards.”

Upon retirement, Dr. Mack and his wife, Fay, lived aboard their trawler seven months of the year cruising from Sag Harbor to Hope Town. He was a member of the Sag Harbor Yacht Club, the Royal Marsh Harbor Yacht Club, and the Hope Town Sailing Club.

Dr. Mack was editor and publisher of the Hope Town Harbor Rats Rag, or “As The Lighthouse Turns,” a spoof of the live-aboards’ of Hope Town Harbor. His writings were noticed by the local Writers Circle and, with prodding and an engraved invitation, he joined their group to became one of their star writers. His short stories of life aboard their trawler, Wanderer, left his audience in tears of laughter. Dr. Mack was the cook aboard the boat and for three years in a row, he came in first place in Hope Town’s annual Chili Contest, competing with local restaurant chefs.

Dr. Mack met his wife, Fay Rhodes, 75 years ago when they were teenagers in Baldwin, New York. They married in 1954 and were blissfully attached at the hip.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by their five “rotten children” and their saintly spouses: Dr. Barbara Mack and Anthony Johnson, Jimmy Mack and Brian Mott, Tom and Tara Mack, Billy and Leslie Mack, Nancy Mack and Chad Smith; 11 grandchildren, Lauren Chu, Christen Chu, Fay Chu, Alec Chu, TylerAnn Mack, JordanRose Mack, James Mack, Will Mack, Cole Smith, Beckett Smith and Dashiell Smith. Dr. Mack was predeceased by his nephew, Kurt Bohn; and his sister, Mary Lou Gavin.

Though kind, compassionate, and encouraging as a husband, father, and grandfather, his greatest accomplishment, according to his family, was summed up in these five words upon his retirement: Proud To Be Mister Fay.

Per “Mr. Fay’s” wishes, his family said, there will be no service and no flowers. He would wish friends to devote their resources and time to their families, his family said, noting that Dr. Mack agreed to the family’s wishes for a celebration of his life later this summer, of which he said, “he would love to join,” and would attend in spirit.