Bruce Charles McLean

Bruce Charles McLean
Englewood, FL - New Hartford, NY
Bruce C. McLean passed away on January 18, 2009, after a short illness. He was the son of Charles W. and Mary Allen McLean, born in Waterville, NY, on May 11, 1924, and attended Waterville Schools, graduating as the president of the Senior Class and President of Student Council. In 1942, he began his studies at Hamilton College. WW II interrupted his education as he served in the Army Air Corps for 4 years, serving 2 years in Panama. Following the war, he returned to Hamilton College and completed the requirements for his Bachelors degree. In 1951, he received his Law degree from Cornell Law School. In 1951, he joined the Kernan and Kernan Law Firm in Utica and later joined Mohawk Airlines as its Corporate Counsel, ultimately assuming the position of Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Director. He then retired to become Counsel to the NYS Power Authority, retiring again to become Counsel to Utica National Insurance Co. from which he finally retired in 1993. His involvement in the community was an important part of his life. He served for many years as Trustee of Mohawk Valley Community College, including terms as Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Chairman of its Foundation Board, and was a Trustee Emeritus of the college. He had been President of the Family Services Association of Utica, President of the Board of Trustees and an Elder of New Hartford Presbyterian Church, President of the Board of House of Good Shepherd as well as receiving the Friends of the Children award for 30 years of service, President of Hamilton College Mohawk Valley Alumni Association, Director of Oneida County Industrial Development Association, and on the Boards of Utica YMCA, Cosmopolitan Center, Rotary Club of Utica, National Boy Scouts Council, Utica Rescue Mission, Chair of Oneida County Chamber of Commerce Airport Committee, and Village Attorney for the Village of New Hartford. He was honored by Oneida County with a day in his honor, and a street at the Oneida County Airport named McLean Way in his honor. In his retirement in Florida, he was President of the Friends of the Elsie Quirk Library, Chairman of the Charlotte County Beaches and Shores Advisory Board, member of the Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow. Surviving are his loving wife of almost 60 years, Eleanor (Lea) Hart McLean; sons, Gardner H. (Lynn) of Skaneateles, NY, and Gregory B. (Cynthia) of Clinton, NY; daughters, Deborah (Walter) Hameline of Colts Neck, NJ, and Jennifer (Christopher) McLean-Bove of Pittsford, NY; and grandchildren, Carolyn McLean, Kathleen McLean, Kristen Hameline, Kelly Hameline, Gregory (Mac) McLean, Victoria McLean, Alexandra Mack, Charles Mack, Allyson Bove and Christopher Bove. Also surviving are brothers, Dr. Roderick McLean of Hilton Head, SC, and Douglas McLean of Bradenton, FL, and sister, Janis Ford of Waterville, NY. A memorial service will be held this Saturday, May 30th at 11am at the New Hartford Presbyterian Church in New Hartford. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in his name to the Community Foundation of Oneida and Herkimer Counties-The Bruce C. & Eleanor H. McLean Fund.