Obituary: Dr. Arthur (Mac) McDermott, 82, Of Hamden

From Sisk Brothers Funeral Home

Dr. Arthur (Mac) Lawrence McDermott, Lt. US Navy 1959 - 1963, formerly of Hamden, CT and West Haven, CT, passed away on January 12 at the Alzheimer's Resource Center in Southington, CT after valiantly living with dementia for many years. He was 82 years young.

Born in New Haven, CT on April 24, 1935, he was the son of the late Bernard and Kathryn (Kavanaugh) McDermott of West Haven. He was a 1953 graduate of Notre Dame in West Haven and rode a football scholarship to West Virginia Wesleyan. Mac earned a D.D.S. from Georgetown School of Dentistry and spent the next 45 years practicing dentistry; work he truly loved daily. Mac married Brooks Bailey on August 7, 1965. They were married for 53 years, through struggles and joys, health and sickness, all the while teaching their 3 children and 7 grandchildren what commitment looks like.

Mac was always involved in his community and served in many ways. He was a founding member of the Walter Camp Football Foundation and served as Pres of the New Haven Football Foundation, Pres of Hunger Relief and Development, founder of the annual St. Rita School Walk-a-thon, Pres of CT State Dental Association, and a CSDA legislator. In 2010, Mac was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the New Haven Dental Assn. He was a die-hard Red Sox fan and a Hamden Father's Little League coach.

Mac loved a good round of golf, Mansfield Grove Camper’s Assn, his family and cereal. Mac’s love of making art was a saving grace as the disease of dementia progressed.

Mac is survived by his steadfast wife, Brooks of Hamden; his 3 children: Michael (Maritza Vojtek) of Hamden, Meghan Tobin (John) of Erieville, NY, and Matthew (Marta Borkowska) of Oxford; siblings: David (Sally), Kathryn Clabby (James), Terrence (Karen) and Daniel (Triscia); 7 grandchildren & 4 great grandchildren. Mac was predeceased by his parents, his oldest brother, Bunny, and his nephew, Kevin Clabby.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages all to spend time creating memories with family and friends, perhaps taking a walk hunting for shells on the shores of Long Island Sound. And in memory of Mac please brush and floss your teeth daily! The family wishes to thank all of the staff at Alzheimer's Resource Center of Connecticut for all their love and care of Mac and Brooks over these past several years. Donations in his memory are welcome at ARCC, 1261 South Main Street, Plantsville, CT.

For more information and to leave online condolences, visit Sisk Brothers Funeral Home here.