Hugh MacRae II

Hugh MacRae II was educated at St Paul’s School in Concord, NH where he played football, ice hockey and was the captain of the crew team. In the summer of 1943, Mr. MacRae left Princeton to join the Aviation Cadet Program of the US Army Air Corps. He graduated from the Army Air Corps flight school in February of 1945. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and assigned at Langley Field, VA to overseas flight training in the B17 Flying Fortress heavy bomber, which included anti-submarine patrol over eastern Atlantic coastal waters. His overseas orders were cancelled with the ending of the war in 1945 and he was honorably discharged as a 2nd Lieutenant in late 1945 to re-enter Princeton University where he graduated in 1947. He later obtained rank of Captain in the U.S. Air Force Reserve.

MacRae was equally fond and very supportive of all things military. He was appointed to the position of Chairman of Military Affairs Committee in Wilmington under which he facilitated the visits by the Royal Navy and American ships that came to port locally. He thoroughly enjoyed being the liaison, entertaining the officers and sailors aboard these ships and introducing them to the Wilmington community. He organized such things as having the crew members speak to students at the local schools and UNCW about career choices in the armed forces. Mr. MacRae also sponsored and underwrote the British and Scottish Military Bands performing in Wilmington at the UNCW auditorium with the expressed purpose of furthering close relations between America and Great Britain and to honor the nearby US Marine Corps at Camp Lejeune. These performances included The Band of the Black Watch in 1979 & 1983, The Band of The Royal Coldstream Guards in 1981 and the Band of the Royal Marines in 1985. One of Mr. MacRae’s most personally cherished military awards was receiving the Superior Service Citation given to him by the Dept of the Navy and the Commandant of the Marine Corps in April 2008.

His business career spanned from 1948 until his passing. He never stopped working and rarely missed a day of work. Even at a spry 93 years old he was still coming and going daily from the Oleander Company. He was first employed with his family real estate company firm Hugh MacRae and Company in 1948 until the company’s dissolution in 1952 upon the death of his grandfather Hugh MacRae. He then went on to form his own company, The Oleander Company Inc, with other family members to continue on in general real estate development, building and investments. The Oleander Company was responsible for the residential development of South Forest Hills, South Oleander, Lincoln Forest, Piney Woods, and some parts of Wrightsville Beach. The commercial property developments included Hanover Center and Independence Mall and other investment properties owned and operated in the Wilmington area, Brunswick County and Linville, NC.

Hugh MacRae II was a pillar of his community and he loved Wilmington very much. He was involved in various civic activities and held positions he cherished, some of which are listed as : Previous President, Trustee, James Walker Memorial Hospital,Vestry Member, St James Church, Chairman, Bellamy Mansion Inc (Historic Preservation), Previous Vice President, North Carolina Board of Realtors, Previous Director, Wachovia Bank & Trust, Wilmington, Member of the Royal and Ancient St Andrews Golf Course.

The MacRae family wishes to thank those who worked so hard to make his last days as comfortable and pleasant as possible. They include Carolyn Tew, Dr .John Lovett , Larry Williams, the Lower Cape Fear Hospice Center, the staff at Bradley Creek Health Center and the nurses and staff on the 4th floor of New Hanover Regional Medical Center.

Hugh MacRae II is survived by his wife of 51 years, Bambi; four children Hugh MacRae II and wife Ann, Nelson MacRae and wife Liz, Marguerite (Meg) Bellamy MacRae and Rachel Cameron MacRae and husband, Ben Gray; four grandchildren Daniel MacRae, Annie MacRae, Nelson MacRae III and Cameron MacRae; his sister Marguerite MacRae Boucher and husband Rex; nephews Robert Boucher, Hugh Boucher and wife Fiona.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/193920191/hugh-macrae

Hugh MacRae II was born in Wilmington, on November 24, 1924, and died Monday, October 8, 2018. He was the son of Marguerite Bellamy and Nelson MacRae. The funeral will take place at 11:00 am Monday, October 15, 2018 at St. James Episcopal Church, the church where he been a member for 93 years. Guests are invited to a reception that follows at St. James’ Great Hall to celebrate his life and accomplishments. There will be a graveside service following the reception at 2:00 pm at Oakdale Cemetery.

“He was always thinking,” said a member of his family. The trait came down from his grandfather, mega-developer and agriculturalist, Hugh MacRae. Later, Hugh II created the Oleander Company in partnership with James W. Rouse. Independence Mall came later, in 1979. Mr. MacRae chose the name because of his fierce patriotism. Mr. MacRae was about as proud as any American in the state of North Carolina – so proud that rather than grumble about his taxes, he gave generously to the Army through contributions to Fort Bragg.

Hugh MacRae II took his place gladly and regularly during the forming and operation of the 1898 Memorial Foundation. He was an excellent example of a blue-blooded Southerner doing an about-face.

The MacRae family wishes to thank those who worked so hard to make his last days as pleasant as possible. They include; Caroline Tew; Dr. John Lovitt; Larry Williams; Lower Cape Fear Hospice; and the nurses and staff on the 4th floor of New Hanover County Regional Medical Center.

Almost at the very end, a friend observed him for a few moments as his condition began to deteriorate rapidly:

“I think he was using his brain up until the very last minute,” the friend said.

You know they say that the person who is dying sometimes has sway in the timing.

He knew what was coming; and had the grace and smarts just to let go and do it fast;

…and to march fearlessly with that perfect posture straight into the next and much improved reality.”

Hugh MacRae is survived by his wife of 51 years, Bambi; four children, Hugh MacRae III and wife Ann, Nelson MacRae and wife Liz, Marguerite (Meg) Bellamy MacRae. Rachel MacRae Grey; four grandchildren, Daniel MacRae, Annie MacRae, Nelson MacRae III, and Cameron MacRae; and one sister, Marguerite Boucher.