Transitioning Times

At Transitions' Annual Auction on June 1, 2017, former Executive Director Dr. Margaret "Marty" Gates was presented the Pete Macky Advocacy Award by Judge Michael Hudock and Nancy Macky. Pete Macky inspired us to create this award. Last year, as his retirement approached, we were excited to present this award to Pete who was preparing to travel extensively and enjoy his retirement. With some of his free time, Pete was a mentor to Elizabeth deCastro, Esq. and Jamie Grobes, the staff of our newly formed Transitions Legal Center (TLC).  Pete helped us establish this Center and, as always, left his indelible mark, complete with his remarkable knowledge and humility.  Pete richly deserved this award for his amazing dedication to the rights of victims in the Susquehanna Valley.  He was the best of his time and will remain with us forever through his legacy of caring and commitment to the underserved among us.  As an attorney with North Penn Legal Services, Pete was the...

     On September 14, 2016, this world lost one of its greatest victim advocates.  Peter Macky, warmly referred to as “Pete,” left this earth unexpectedly.  I had known of Pete almost my entire life.  He was an everyday legend in my house while growing up.   My Mom would fondly share the story of the day she met Pete to anyone looking for a chuckle. “ I met Pete in the basement of the Union County Courthouse. I was one of, if not his first case, as a legal aid attorney. It was May 1974. I was 17 and had committed an act that was considered "detrimental to the welfare of the school" and the district had removed me from the elected office as President of Student Council (for streaking no less). He defended my 1st amendment right to express myself and instilled in me a passion for defending those who cannot defend themselves.   We went on to forge a friendship that would span 42 years, serving on a number of community committees together,...