Mackenzie, Marlin Matheson, 84, of Brandon , passed away on March 1, 2009 . He is survived by his loving wife Stefanie; sons, Scott Mackenzie and Randy Mackenzie; grandchildren, Jessica, Yarrow, and Malia. Mac's life was devoted to developing people. First it was developing the physical body, later developing the mind working with the body to make a completely integrated mind, body and emotional person. In 1954 he was the first swimming coach and assistant to the Athletic Director at the newly founded United States Air Force Academy at Lowry Air Force Base in Aurora , Colorado . Mac designed the natatorium at the permanent Air Force Academy which remains in use; unchanged. Following the Air Force Academy, Mac returned to New York where he accepted a position with Columbia University , Teachers College. Mac remained at Columbia University until his 1992 retirement. Mac was one of the youngest men at age 28 to earn his Doctorate (Ed.D) from Columbia University . He earned his undergraduate degree at Amherst College in Amherst , Massachusetts and his Masters Degree from Columbia University . Mac served in the United States Navy from 1942 until 1946 where he was assigned to the Pacific. He was honorably discharged as a First Lieutenant. Mac worked with the 7 original NASA Mercury astronauts researching how the mind and body react in space. While at Columbia , Mac founded the first training program for sports counselors in the U.S. He is the author of 5 books, "Learning to Swim", "Towards a new curriculum in Physical Education", "Golf, the Mind Game", "Tennis, the Mind Game", and "Skiing, the Mind Game". Mac's research and work with athletes included Olympic athletes, professional athletes, and the Taiwan Olympic team. In 1987, he founded Sports Metaskills to further the research, study and awareness of the mind & body connection in athletes. Mac retired from Columbia in 1992 where he pursued his hobbies of golf, reading and research with Neuro Linguistic Programming. Funeral services will be held Friday, March 6, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at Serenity Meadows Funeral Home with the Rev. John Wintringham officiating. Words of comfort may be expressed at serenitymeadows.com