NAPA - Kenneth N. MacKenzie, of Napa, died suddenly on Aug. 11, 2008, at the age of 38, while on a family vacation.

Ken grew up in Davis and graduated from Davis Senior High School in 1988, where he had been active in the jazz choir as well as various theater productions, the rugby team and wrestling. During his school years, the family took a couple of sabbaticals and spent a year in Australia and a year in England, which is where Ken discovered rugby. Between high school and college, Ken also spent a year in Denmark with AFS. Ken graduated with a degree in history from UC Davis in June of 1994, where he was also active in the UC Choir and the UC Rugby team.

 In addition, Ken was an Eagle Scout with Troop 66 in Davis and enjoyed going on trips to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico with the troop. He was a member of the Davis Comic Opera Company, in part founded by his parents, Natalie and Malcolm, in 1973. Ken participated in many aspects of DCOC, both backstage and on-stage, debuting on stage as the character, Little Coco, in “The Mikado” at age 10. His final role, after many years, was a solo in the last show of DCOC’s history as Private Willis in “Iolanthe,” at the age of 35.

DCOC was a family affair, first with his parents and sisters and then with his wife, Heather, starting in 1997. Ken and Heather met while they were both volunteering for AFS. They quickly became friends and were married in 2002 under a large oak tree in Glen Ellen, with many family members and friends in attendance.

Ken’s love of history was obvious in his 18 years of active participation in the National Civil War Association. He proudly reenacted the role of a “private in the ranks” of the California 100, a dismounted cavalry unit. Heather joined Ken in this hobby in 1996, and she still is active, portraying civilian life during the Civil War.

Ken also stayed active in the game of rugby as a member of the Sacramento Men’s Rugby Football Club. He was one of the oldest playing team members and Ken enjoyed fostering the love of rugby for youth here in the USA. His team went to the Elite 8 in the 2008 season in Austin, Texas. Ken culminated his traveling experiences with a trip to France last fall, in which he and his wife fulfilled his lifelong goal of attending the Rugby World Cup.

 Ken was a fun-loving and caring uncle to his niece and four nephews, but was an honorary uncle to many more children, still growing and full-grown.

Ken is survived by his wife, Heather; parents Natalie and Malcolm; sister Leslie and brother-in-law Jon, niece Lindsay and nephew Stuart; sister Tracie and brother-in-law Augusto, nephews Alex, Sean and Kevin; and parents-in-law, Kathy and Dave. He will be missed dearly by all who knew him.

His wife and family invite all who knew Ken to a memorial celebration to be held on Oct. 25, 4 p.m., at Veterans’ Memorial Center Theatre, at 203 E. 14th St., in Davis.

Donations may be made in Ken’s memory to the Sacramento Men’s Rugby Football Club, P.O. Box 191354, Sacramento, CA 95819. Donations may also be made to the UC Davis Music Building Fund, Department of Music, Attn: Debbie Wilson, 1 Shields Ave., Davis, CA 95616. Please make check payable to: UC Davis Foundation/Recital Hall in memory of Ken MacKenzie.

Arrangements under the direction of Morrison Funeral Chapel of Napa Valley, 963-3536.