When the McCormack family picture former Montrose dentist Mike McCormack at his very best, he’s sitting round a dining table surrounded by his loved ones.
Yet no-one could have foreseen the sudden, catastrophic brain bleed that would take his life.
At age 85, Mike passed away peacefully at Ninewells Hospital, his daughters Nikki and Gillian by his side.
Though taken to hospital after falling unconscious at his Hillside home, Mike never woke again.
For his family, there is comfort in knowing that, to all intents and purposes, he spent his final moments at home, the place he loved most.
Yet the relative suddenness of his passing at the end of May has still come as a shock.
Michael Ernest McCormack, known as Mike, was a pillar of the Montrose and Brechin communities. He was also a loving father and grandfather, a passionate golfer, and a spirited sailor whose zest for life never wavered.
Formative years spent in Montrose
Born on October 8, 1939, in Fyfe Jamieson Maternity Hospital, Forfar, Mike was the eldest son of Hugh and Phyllis McCormack.
His childhood, first on Castle Street and then in York Terrace, was filled with outdoor adventure, the bond of brotherhood with Malcolm, and a fierce pride in his Montrose roots.
That childhood joy never left him. He could never pass the old family home without remarking: “I used to live there!”
After formative years at Southesk Primary and Montrose Academy, Mike earned a place at St Andrews University to study dentistry, eventually completing his training in Dundee.
It was there he met Helen, a dental nurse and they married in 1967 at Melville South Church, Montrose, and soon after welcomed daughters Nikki and Gillian.
Mike joined Links Lodge Dental Practice in John Street, Montrose, eventually becoming a partner and later expanding the practice into Brechin.
The practice – renamed McCormack and MacDonald with colleague Duncan MacDonald – grew into one of the most trusted dental clinics in the region.
For decades, Mike’s gentle manner and precise hand guided countless patients through their dental fears, his calm presence as reassuring as the sturdy dentist’s chair they clung to.
But Mike was more than his profession. He was a man who worked hard and played even harder – relentlessly curious about the world and eager to explore it with his family.
Mike McCormack enjoyed family, golf and sailing adventures
Holidays were frequent with trips to Jersey, Disney World, the Caribbean, and Europe creating lifelong memories for Nikki and Gillian.
There were also caravan adventures in Kingussie.
Mike enjoyed sailing and kept his boat moored at Dunstaffnage and spent countless days navigating the Sound of Mull and the rugged west coast.
Nikki often joined him on these trips, treasuring those tranquil voyages where wind and water dictated the day.
On land, Mike was equally at home with a golf club in hand.
From his first membership at Edzell Golf Club – where he later enrolled his grandson Scott – to regular Friday putting sessions at Royal Montrose Mercantile, golf was more than a hobby. It was a discipline, a community, and a joy.
He marshalled at prestigious tournaments like The British Open and The Seniors Open, soaking up the excitement of the game he loved.
A dedicated ‘Spikey grandad’
In 1990, after the end of his marriage, Mike built a house in Lamondfauld Road, Hillside.
Though he and Helen parted ways, they remained connected through their children and grandchildren and continued sharing in family celebrations and visits.
Mike was a dedicated grandfather – “Spikey grandad” to his five grandchildren – and deeply admired their academic and personal achievements. Every graduation ceremony saw Mike proudly don his St Andrews tie, standing tall as a proud patriarch.
He retired from dentistry in 2000, but life never slowed.
Cruises became a new way to sail, with voyages from the US to the Caribbean becoming a fixture until around 2018.
And even when age and strokes began to affect his mobility, Mike remained determined, opinionated, and spirited.
A stalwart of the community
Mike continued to drive, participate in community life, and enjoy every moment spent with loved ones.
His beloved dog, Spike, was a fixture in his later years.
They were the perfect pair – stubborn, loyal, and full of character.
Mike’s days became quieter after strokes in 2018 and 2019. Yet his spirit never dimmed.
He cherished his carers from the Adam Centre, took joy in weekly visits from his golfing friends David, Tony, and Ian, and always asked, “What’s the plans for this weekend?” – a refrain that showed he was always looking forward to the next gathering, the next drive, the next meal with family.
In May, shortly after returning from respite care and hearing stories of Nikki and Gillian’s trip to Vancouver, Mike suffered the catastrophic brain bleed that would take his life.
But in his final days, he was surrounded by love, dignity, and the profound respect of a family and community who adored him.
Conversation