Peter Brooks Macky, Esq.

Peter Brooks Macky, Esq., passed away suddenly on September 14, 2016 at his home in Lewisburg. He was 68.

He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Nancy Stearns Macky and his children Allen and Annie.

Pete was born April 14, 1948 in Media, Pa. to Bud and Sally Macky and graduated from Penncrest High School in 1966. In 1970 he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Bucknell University and furthered his studies at George Washington University Law School where he earned his degree in 1973.

While studying in Washington, D.C., Pete worked for Ralph Nader. As an original member of Nader’s Raiders, he helped put together profiles on the 484 members of Congress that was part of a much larger Congressional investigation in 1972.

Returning to Pennsylvania after graduation from law school, Pete became a founding member of what is now the Sunbury office of NorthPenn Legal Services in 1974 and retired as Managing Attorney after 42 years of service on May 31, 2016.

During his tenure with Legal Services, Pete was credited for helping to educate the area court on the rights of low-income litigants and create pro se paperwork currently used for those who must represent themselves. He also produced several self-help legal videos aimed at making the litigation process easier to understand.

It was those videos that brought him to the attention of Susquehanna University where he was eventually hired as an adjunct member of the Departments of Accounting and Management. For the last 14 years Pete taught  courses regarding the law, as well as business and legal ethics.

His SU website quotes him as saying, “My favorite day of the year at Susquehanna is commencement…it is for most, the end of their academic career and the beginning of an exciting new phase. Maybe they will remember (I hope) a reputation is easy to lose and hard to regain, and in the long run, good ethics are good business.”

Pete was a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, as well as the Union/Snyder Bar Association and the Northumberland Bar Association where he served as Vice-President.

Pete has received several awards for his commitment and advocacy on behalf of low-income people including the PA Legal Aid Network “Excellence Award.” In May of 2016, Transitions presented him with the first-ever “Transitions Advocacy Award” created and inspired by Pete’s tireless advocacy on behalf of domestic victims over the past four decades. 

Other awards include the James A. Finnegan Fellowship Foundation Award, the North Penn Legal Service 30-year awards and the Northumberland County Court Award recognizing 40 years of service. 

Pete loved the outdoors and all that came with it — hiking, biking, swimming and ice skating. To help enhance the community’s enjoyment of the outdoors, he served on the predecessor boards to the Buffalo Valley Recreation Association (Lewisburg Area Recreation Association and Eastern Union County Recreation Association) as well as the Merrill W. Linn Land and Waterways Conservancy.

Pete was a lover of trivia especially history, sports and music and was a regular participant in area restaurant trivia nights. He was also known for his sense of humor and love of puns.

His biggest passion though was his family. He was devoted to his children, never missing one of Allen’s soccer games or Annie’s concerts. He traveled the world hiking and biking with his wife Nancy and rarely passed up the opportunity to visit aunts, uncles and cousins.

In addition to his immediate family he is survived by his sister Pat Fisher, her husband Don and their children Catherine, Julie and Cara and his sister-in-law Judy McNinch and her husband Steve as well as numerous cousins. 

A memorial service, officiated by the Rev. Gregory Kramer will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, September 18, at Faith Lutheran Church on Route 45 in Lewisburg. Friends will be greeted by the family in the fellowship hall following the service.

The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to NorthPenn Legal Services, 133 N 2nd St., Sunbury, Pa. 17801.

The family is being assisted by Cronrath-Grenoble Funeral Home, S. Second and St. Louis streets, Lewisburg.

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