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MacQuarrie “Mac” Walker passed away on June 7, surrounded by beloved family and friends. He leaves behind his wife of 48 years, Mary Jo (Gidget) Walker; daughter Jessica Catherine McCullough; son John MacQuarrie Walker; son-in-law Martin Andrew McCullough; daughter-in-law Connie Wind Walker; grandchildren Thomas and Clara McCullough and Orrin and Theodora Walker; his sister Holly Walker; and many dear friends. He was predeceased by his parents, Mary Elizabeth “Betty” and John Walker, and sister Noelle Gifreda.

Mac was born in Gary, Indiana, on Feb. 15, 1943, and spent most of his youth in Greenfield and Berea, Ohio. He graduated from Baldwin-Wallace University in 1965, majoring in history. Mac swam on the swim team and was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame in October 2016. After college, he enlisted in the Coast Guard and served in Vietnam, on the coast of Maine and Cleveland.

After traveling the world, living in Ohio, Nantucket, Massachusetts, Coventry, Rhode Island, and North Wales, Pennsylvania, Mac and his family moved to Madison in 1980 to open Friends & Company Restaurant with his friend and business partner, Dick Evarts. Their vision for a new type of dining experience was ahead of its time and the restaurant lives on to this day. After 25 years at Friends & Company, Mac began work for the Town of Madison as the town’s sanitarian, which took him to retirement. Beyond his successful and dynamic career, Mac spent his time caring for his wife, family, and friends and being the “World’s Best Grandfather.”

He loved gardening and grew delicious heirloom tomatoes and spectacular flowers, as well as hiking, swimming, writing, and spending time with his family and many friends. He loved music and sang in the Shoreline Chorale. Over the years, he developed incredible and meaningful friendships through the Sunrisers Men’s Group. Among many other things, Mac will be remembered for his generosity, his kindness, his endless intellectual and spiritual curiosity, his effortless flow in any kitchen, and creating culinary masterpieces that brought joy to countless spectators, friends, and family.

He is missed dearly, but we celebrate beautiful memories and a better world because of him.

Donations in Mac’s honor can be made by contributing to the following organizations: The Shoreline Chorale, PanCan, and CT Audubon Society.