Robert B. & Florence M. MacKenna Fund

This fund was established by the Wakefield Tennis Association to honor their close friend and associate, Bob MacKenna. A 1939 graduate of Wakefield High School, Bob served as president of his class and distinguished himself in athletics, serving as captain on the 1938 football team and also as a defenseman on the hockey team. He was a decorated World War II hero, serving with the tank corps. He was very outgoing and gregarious and was always ready to greet one with a warm smile. Perhaps he is most fondly remembered for his sidesplitting vaudeville routine “The Slippery Elm”. As an active TSF director, he entertained many student Phonathon callers with his banjo routine. Honored in 1989 by the Chamber of Commerce as Wakefield’s Citizen of the Year, Bob died in April 1990 after a long battle with cancer.

With the passing of Florence M. MacKenna in May 2012, her name was added to the Robert B. MacKenna Scholarship Fund. Her daughter, Nancy Rice, was kind enough to share her thoughts and memories of her beloved mother. She was a strong woman with a tremendous faith in the goodness of people. She loved my Dad and her “kids”, my brother, Bob and me. Bob and I had a lot of friends over the years from high school and college and they always seemed to be at our home. In fact, even when my brother and I were living in Virginia, our Massachusetts friends found their way to Mom and Dad’s for food, their wisdom and especially the fun that always happened there. Mom was a wonderful cook and somehow, even without knowing a group would be around, she always cooked great meals with plenty of food. Several friends over the years even lived with Mom and Dad for temporary housing and they were always welcome. Tennis was a big sport in our family over the years and Mom was the organizer for tennis trips for Mom and Dad. He played tennis and she was there to support him.

My Mom and Dad were strong supporters of TSF, believing in supporting Wakefield youth in furthering their education. My husband, Brian and I hope to continue to support TSF and the Robert B. and Florence M. MacKenna Fund as we can.