`MAYOR OF THE MALL' MAKES A COMEBACK.

Byline: Dennis McCarthy 

He's an emotional guy, Mac Moren is. So it didn't surprise any of his friends or family that he'd break down and cry Friday morning when they threw him an impromptu 84th birthday party in the security office at the Northridge Fashion Center.

The mayor of the mall, as Mac is called, was presented with a gray-and-black security hat, and a big cookie.

Not much by normal birthday standards, maybe, but the look in Mac's eyes read like he'd just hit the lottery.

He thanked everyone for thinking about him, for remembering his birthday, for being there. Then he cried.

Shelly Hudosh managed a smile through her own tears as she watched her father humbly thank everyone for coming.

``Finally,'' she whispered to herself. ``Finally, he's coming back.''

Over in the corner, Jim Dellinger took his own deep breath and shook his head.

``The first time I saw him sitting here on a bench alone, I thought this is a lonely man,'' said the director of security for the Northridge Fashion Center.

``But he's got this smile and way about him. You can't help but like Mac,'' he said.

Yeah, that's what everyone says about the mayor of the mall.

Her mother, Esther, was the force in the family, Shelly says, the ruler of the roost. Her dad, Mac, a grocer by trade, followed orders mostly, and smiled a lot.

``When I was a little kid and we'd go out for rides in the family car, whenever Dad saw a car broken down on the side of the road, he'd stop to help,'' she said.

``Whenever he saw an elderly person waiting alone at a bus stop, he'd offer them a ride. That's the kind of man my dad is. Wherever he goes, he makes friends instantly because people are naturally drawn to him.''

That's the way it's also been at the Northridge Fashion Center for the past 12 years, where Mac is one of a few hundred regular walkers taking laps around the mall every morning.

Day in, day out - a couple of miles around the mall for Mac, then over to the pretzel shop for a cup of coffee enjoyed at his regular table in his regular seat.

Putting his headphones on to listen to some good jazz, backed up with a good book. All the while, waving to, smiling at and enjoying all the people walking by him in the mall before heading home at noon.

Then Esther got sick.

Sixty years of marriage was winding down with a massive role reversal. Now, it was Mac who had to be the force in the family because his wife's weak heart no longer allowed it.

Mac who had to do the marketing. Mac who had to cook dinner. Mac who had to balance the checkbook and do the cleaning.

``It made him stronger and more independent,'' Shelly said. ``Thank God, because he would need it.''

Esther's death last year hit Mac hard. He went into a shell, denying himself anything that might offer him pleasure, like his jazz.

Shelly saw it. All Mac's friends saw it. And worried.

There is not a shred of doubt in Shelly's mind that the thing that has brought her father back to life these past few months - the thing that finally busted through all that depression - was this mall and the people in it.

The friendships, the activity, the feeling that there is a place for him to go every morning where he belongs, where he feels safe, and among people who care about him.

Where he can sit and watch the world walk by him - or take a walk himself.

Whenever security director Jim Dellinger hires a new security guard at the mall, he breaks the kid in by sending him over to see the mayor first.

``Five minutes with Mac is better than all the lectures I could give to teach my officers how to interact with the public and customers,'' Dellinger said. ``Mac's broken in all my men.''

It's been good to see Mac with his headphones back on, his friends were saying Friday at the party - good to see that smile back on his face.

Good to see the tears in his eyes when they sang him ``Happy Birthday.''

The old Mac was back.

MEMO: Dennis McCarthy's column appears Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday.

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Photo

Photo: Mac Moran is presented with a security hat by Northr idge Fashion Center general manager Lloyd Miller and security director Jim Dellinger, far right. At left is Moran's daughter, Shelly Hudosh.

David Sprague/Daily News