Gary Sinise Remembers Son Mac After His Death: ‘Proud to be His Dad’
By Movieguide® Contributor
Gary Sinise shared a touching tribute to his son, McCanna Anthony “Mac” Sinise, who died in January following a battle with Chordoma.
“On February 27, 2017, our son Mac joined the team at Gary Sinise Foundation as our Assistant Manager of Education & Outreach. I was thrilled and excited to have him come on board to help me with the mission,” Sinise began.
“As a father, having him as part of the Foundation was a gift,” he added. “He was a great representative who cared about the mission and those we serve, and I was eager to watch him grow with the organization.”
The father-son duo also enjoyed seeing military veterans in local hospitals and “rockin’ out together for the troops,” as Sinise played bass and Mac filled in as drummer when needed.
Mac was diagnosed with Chordoma in 2018. “Chordoma is a rare type of bone cancer that happens most often in the bones of the spine or the skull,” per Mayo Clinic.
“After surgery to remove the initial tumor in September of 2018, and another spine procedure in February 2019 to clear what looked like an infection, unfortunately a follow up scan in May of 2019 would show that his Chordoma had come back and was spreading,” Sinise described. “This began a long battle that disabled him more and more as time went on. The cancer fight was getting harder, but throughout most of 2019 he was still able to come to the GSF office, until a third spine surgery in November of that year.”
Before his death, Mac created the album “Resurrection & Revival.” Unable to play the drums, he learned to play the harmonica instead.
“In early 2023, he started thinking about working on a piece of music called “Arctic Circles” that he had written in college but never finished,” Sinise wrote.
After finding the right connections, “The [recording] session was scheduled for July 17, 2023, at the very famous Sunset Sound in Los Angeles. He financed the session with his own money, and [his friend from college] Oliver [Schnee] and his father, legendary recording engineer and producer Bill Schnee, hired the contractor who pulled together some of the top studio musicians in Los Angeles. Bill lent his services on the mixing board.”
The album includes multiple tracks, and Mac plays his harmonica accompanied by members of the Lt. Dan Band.
“The week the album went to press, Mac lost his battle with cancer. He died on January 5, 2024 at 3:25pm, and was laid to rest on January 23rd,” Sinise wrote.
“While our hearts ache at missing him, we are comforted in knowing that Mac is no longer struggling, and inspired and moved by how he managed it,” he continued. “He fought an uphill battle against a cancer that has no cure, but he never quit trying. Mac loved movies, and we always told him he reminded us of the soldier at the end of the extraordinary film 1917, running through the battlefield, bombs going off all around him, knocking him down one after the other, yet he keeps getting back up, refusing to quit and keeps running forward.”
“I am so blessed, fortunate, and proud to be his dad,” he added.
Continue to pray for the Sinise family as they grieve the loss of Mac.
Movieguide® recently reported:
Movieguide® founder Dr. Ted Baehr offered his condolences to Sinise and his family.
“Gary, I’m so sad to hear about the loss of your son, Mac,” Dr. Baehr said. “You know, I lost [my wife] Lily a year and a half ago. It’s always hard to even consider the grief that comes, and I know with a child it’s even more grief, but with my wife, she was my best friend.”
“I read a lot of books on grief,” he continued. “My favorite was from a pastor in Nashville who said that his daughter died. And if anybody else came up to him and said she’s in a better place, he was gonna slug that person even though he was pastor of a church. And I understand that because cause when Lily passed, everybody said she’s in a better place, but I was not in a better place.”
“So I want you to know that you’re in my prayers, that I appreciate you, that you are a great encouragement in the years that you were at FOA, that you’ve done great movies, and you’re a great blessing to me and to Movieguide®,” Dr. Baehr said.
“I’m praying for you now more than ever because of the loss of your son Mac, who from what I read, was an absolutely extraordinary person.”
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Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
