Elise (Lee) Bradley Mackay of Locust Valley, New York, daughter of the late Elise Cavanagh Bradley and the late Thomas A. Bradley, Jr, died peacefully at home on March 15, 2024, after a courageous battle with cancer.
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Elise Mackay passed away on March 15. Her funeral is planned to take place in mid-May.
Lee attended Green Vale School in Glen Head and the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Noroton. She made her debut in 1964 at a supper dance hosted by her parents at Tabhill. Lee graduated in 1968 from Connecticut College, where she studied art history. She had a lifelong passion for the arts and enjoyed attending ballet, theatre, opera and visiting museums.
Lee had a career in real estate in Locust Valley for over forty years. She worked with Piping Rock Associates and her last affiliation was with Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty, where she was a highly regarded associate broker.
In 1990, Lee married Patrick H. Mackay. Together they traveled the world… in some cases to see one of their racehorses run in Dubai or Paris; or for a shooting trip; or just to explore and experience their favorite countries. Lee loved the outdoors — horseback riding, golf, salmon fishing, shooting and gardening. She owned many Labrador retrievers over the years and could often be seen walking with one of them.
A very accomplished rider, Lee hunted with the Meadow Brook Hounds until they disbanded in 1970. She also competed in horse shows including the National Horse Show at Madison Square Garden and the Piping Rock Horse Show.
Lee was a very good golfer, having benefitted from her parents’ coaching at a young age. She was a member of the Women’s Long Island Golf Association for over 50 years; and won several tournaments including the Pinehurst Low Gross with Hope Lapsley in 2005, Closing Day Ruth Torgerson Leffler Trophy in 2007, and the Davis Cup in 1991 and 2002.
The Davis Cup is a family tournament and over a period of about thirty years, Lee played with her parents, sister and brother-in-law, aunt, cousins and her husband’s nephew. Lee was the Club Rep for Piping Rock through the 2021 season, helping to set up both the Opening Day and Davis Cup tournaments for many years.
Lee was also an avid gardener. She joined the North Country Garden Club in 1993 and was an-extremely involved member. For many years, Lee chaired the Membership Committee and Civic Projects Committee. She was a two-time winner of the President’s Cup in 2004 and 2014; and also won the coveted Adele R. Norris Award for Best Artistic Arrangement as a provisional member in 1994.
For her many contributions as an invaluable member of the club, Lee received NCGV’s Certificate of Appreciation in 2014. Lee designed and nurtured her own garden for almost 30 years and in 2023 NCGC recognized the beautiful landscape she had created by choosing it as a “pop-up” garden. On a specific day that summer, her garden was open to members who wished to stroll through and enjoy.
Lee is survived by her husband Patrick H. Mackay, sisters Belle C. Bradley and Renee B. Bradley, her aunt Sara Cavanagh Schwartz and nephew and niece Christopher and Wendy Merz. Lee will be deeply missed by her family and friends.
Burial private. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to North Country Garden Club of L.I., PO Box 21, Locust Valley, NY 11560.
There will be a memorial mass at St. Dominic’s in Oyster Bay and a celebration of Lee’s life to follow in mid-May.
— an obituary from Francis P. DeVine Funeral Home, where online condolences may be left