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So many people hold her father, Tim Mackey, in such high regard that Katrina Mackey-Callahan has often heard them wish they could belong to her family. The doting daughter, other relatives and a number of those would-be kinsmen united with the prized patriarch on Father’s Day, with their involvement in the Gary Papa Run supplying the former resident of 21st and McKean streets with additional hope in fighting prostate cancer.
“We’re an extremely close group, so I’m happy that we came together to support such a great cause,” the West Deptford inhabitant said Monday of his loved ones’ participation in the Foundation for Breast and Prostate Health event. “I want for everyone to be better off, and we love playing our part in raising funds and awareness.”
The 64-year-old and his kith and kin took to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway for the occasion named for the gregarious sportscaster who succumbed to prostate cancer in 2009. In awe of his courage since their dad’s ’10 diagnosis, Mackey-Callahan and brother Craig Mackey submitted Phenomenal Papa nomination letters, with their sentiments leading not only to overwhelming acceptance but also a second-place finish through online voting.
“My father is a survivor, so that makes him a winner regardless,” Mackey-Callahan said of the close poll finish. “He’s an amazing person who has fought through so many difficulties; he’s my hero.”
“Writing about him was a nice way to acknowledge my father,” her sibling added. “The man’s will is amazing, and he’s been such an inspiration, especially to me in my role as a dad, too.”
The close clan, with Timmy’s Walnut as its nickname because of classical references to the prostate’s size as akin to a walnut’s, joined fellow answer seekers in the 5 and 10K portions and the 1 Mile Fun Walk, which Tim Mackey and wife Susan chose. Certainly not a fan of fanfare, the patriarch saw the day as yet another call to help others no matter how much emphasis everyone placed on his efforts.
“He’s our trooper,” his bride noted, pointing out that her family’s faith in one another and God has graced the last few years with timeless appreciation for their interactions. “We’re active in many walks, so this one, which is so close to our hearts, reminds us of his value to us.”
Having also braved heart and neck woes, Tim Mackey has always avoided chiding his fortune, never lamenting what he has lost but rather regarding what remains.
“Having perspective really helps,” he said of combatting any possible battle with pity. “I still have so much to experience, and each day is a blessing.”
Along with his West Passyunk residence, the Garden State inhabitant also called the 1500 block of Shunk Street home as a youth. He and Susan, who most identified with the 2800 block of McKean Street as a child, hung on corners together and became more deeply connected during their sophomore year of high school, with Tim attending Bishop Neumann and Susan the St. Monica Business School.
“There was definitely an attraction that we wanted to explore,” Susan Mackey said of their union, with May 22 having marked their 44th wedding anniversary. “After so much time together, we still have that curiosity about each other and the admiration for what we have been able to experience as grandparents [of three girls].”
Their nuptials led to a move to Delaware County, with a return to South Philly preceding their trek to New Jersey. Their present location has blessed them with many unforgettable memories, including the understanding of the human will to survive. Such has been the core lesson for Tim Mackey since his Feb. 19, ’11 prostate operation and the subsequent four years of treatment.
“I just go about my business,” the ex-local, sounding South Philly strong, said of weathering complications, including bouts with urinary retention and the presence of blood clots in his urinary tract. “My quality of life is OK, and I do what I can to keep going.”
Philanthropy greatly aids the selfless individual, with membership in the Greater Wildwood Elks Lodge #1896 a key component of remaining vigilant. He and Susan have also nourished a relationship with the Katie Kirlin Fund, which Whitman residents Joe and Roseann Kirlin helm as a tribute to their daughter, who passed away in 1989, two years after gradual paralysis took over her body following the removal of a spinal tumor, and as a resource for wheelchair athletes.
“That humanitarian presence and identity are important to me because giving is what we’re called to do,” he said of perpetually advocating for altruism. “There really is strength in numbers, and I’m happy to give my input.”
He finds himself even more thrilled when he can share affection with his spouse and descendants, deriving particularly enduring pride from trips to Beaver Stadium, where he and his son annually attend a Penn State University football game.
“My dad is always able to put a positive spin on everything,” Craig Mackey said. “He’s helped me to raise my standards, and I wouldn’t trade my time with him for anything. He never, ever complains and keeps putting his best foot forward.”
Though Tim Mackey regards his quality of life as satisfactory with regards to physical capabilities, his emotional existence never figures to be anything less than an amazing journey filled with acceptance and allegiance.
“I’ll be on treatment for the rest of my life,” he said, “but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to live my life on my terms as best as I can.”
Contact Managing Editor Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
Tim Mackey, from left, and his faithful supporters made The 13th Annual Foundation for Breast and Prostate Health Father’s Day Gary Papa 10k, 5k and 1 Mile Fun Walk another example of their amazing unity.
Photo Provided by Katrina Mackey-Callahan
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