Sylvan M. "Mac" Mendelsohn

Sylvan “Mac” Mendelsohn, of Newton, died suddenly Monday, November 8, 2010. He was 55. Born in Rio de Janiero, Brazil, Mac was the son of the late Monroe Mendelsohn and Frieda Mendelsohn, currently of Scottsdale, Arizona. Mac grew up in Scarsdale, New York, graduated from Vanderbilt University and received his Masters in Education from Columbia University. Mac worked for Heinle Cengage Learning, with a long and successful career in Publishing and Publishing technology. At Heinle, Mac oversaw the largest technology adoption Heinle has ever had, ICPNA, in Lima, Peru. He also managed the creation of MYELT, a product which today delivers English Language Training to over 350,000 users annually.

He was the beloved husband of Jennifer for 25 years and a loving and devoted father to Kyle and Claire, all of Newton. Mac shared his love of nature and the outdoors with his friends and family and spent many happy times sailing on the Cape and the Islands, on the beach at Block Island, and in New Hampshire on weekends where he and his family skied in winter and spent the summer months at the lake swimming and kayaking. He would hike in the mornings with the family dogs, and see moose, deer, wild turkeys, and fox nearby. He loved music, especially rock and roll, and was an avid sports fan. He loved to joke and laugh with his children and friends, and his unique sense of humor meant every day was a new adventure when you were with him.

Mac also loved to run and bike and for the last two summers participated in a mini
tri-athlon, with his family cheering him on. Last Christmas, the family had the trip of a lifetime when his mother brought them all to Africa for a safari in Botswana, a visit to Victoria Falls, ending with a celebration of the New Year in Cape Town.

Growing up, Mac spent many summers at Incarnation Camp in Ivoryton, Connecticut, first as a camper and then as a counselor. He always returned each summer for alumni weekend and brought his children along to teach them to fish in the lake and to share his love of this special place that meant so much to him. In lieu of flowers, donations in Mac’s name may be made to Incarnation Camp, P.O. Box 577, Ivoryton, CT 06442

A memorial service will be held Saturday, November 13th at 9:00 a.m. at Grace Episcopal Church, 76 Eldredge Street, Newton, MA 02458. A reception at the church will immediately follow the service and friends and family are invited to attend.

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