MELBOURNE BEACH

Neilson A. Mackay, age 84, died January 29, 2026, in Melbourne, Florida.  He was born in 1941 in Port of Spain, Trinidad, the son of John Angus and Olive Fletcher Mackay. 

Neil had an accomplished academic and corporate career.  He graduated from St. Mary’s College in Trinidad.  He then earned his B.Eng. degree with distinction from McGill University in Montreal, Canada, followed by his Ph.D. degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering from Sydney University, Australia, where he managed the development of one of the world’s largest phased array antennas.  He was associate professor of Electronics & Communications at Queen’s University in Kingston, Canada, and Professor of Electronics & Communications at the University of the West Indies in Trinidad.  His corporate career as a Chief Executive Officer spanned more than four decades.  He served as CEO of EMS Technologies, and before that CAL Corporation, Innotech Aviation Ltd., GEAC Computers, the Trinidad & Tobago Telephone Co.  and Chairman of the Electrical Industry Development Program in Trinidad.

Neil’s greatest joy was his family.  Surviving in addition to his wife, Pamela Ellison Mackay, are his sons Kevin (Charlene) of Old Greenwich, CT, Randy (Reina) of Karuizawa, Japan, and Neilson (Sarah) of Vancouver, Canada, as well as five grandchildren:  William, Kieran, Audrey, Stefan and Ewan.  Three bonus children:  Caroline Smith (Mason) of Indialantic, FL, Tommy (Jackie) of Central City, IA, and Chris (Beth) of Mount Vernon, IA, with eight grandchildren:  Wesley, Georgia, Ashton, TJ, Maycie, Ryan, Nathan and Cal.  Three sisters, Wendy Dixon of Harpenden, England, Bernadette of Mount Vernon, NY, and Judy Farfan of Diego Martin, Trinidad, and two brothers, Bernard (Rosie) of Woodbrook, Trinidad, and Ean (Marion) of Plymouth, Tobago; many cousins, nieces and nephews.  In addition to his parents, he is pre-deceased by two brothers, John and Michael, both of Trinidad. 

Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 6, 2026, at Beach Funeral Home, 1689 S. Patrick Dr., Satellite Beach, FL 32937.  Visitation with family and friends will begin at 10am, followed by the funeral service at 12 noon.  Interment will follow at the historic Georgiana Cemetery, 3970 Crooked Mile Rd., Merritt Island, FL.  If you prefer, in lieu of flowers, donations to First Baptist Church, 170 Washington Ave., Indialantic, FL 32903, in memory of Neil, would be greatly appreciated.