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John MacLean Obituary
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July 22, 1925 - February 8, 2025
John age 99, of Cranston, passed away on February 8, 2025. Devoted husband to the late Elizabeth "Betty" Slemmer MacLean, he is survived by son John MacLean Jr. and wife Maire, and daughter Elizabeth "Betsy" MacLean and husband John Lima. In addition to his children, he leaves beloved grandchildren Eric Polaski and wife Pallak, Catherine MacLean and husband Derek, Ian MacLean and wife Caty, and Alex MacLean. He was predeceased by beloved daughter Janice Polaski and siblings Lloyd G. MacLean, Harold Richard "Dick" MacLean, and Helen Jenkins.
Born in Providence, John also spent formative years in Prince Edward Island Canada and Malden, Massachusetts. He served as a radioman on supply ships in the U.S. Navy in World War II where he saw combat in the Pacific Campaigns at Guam and Leyte. After the war he attended Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois then graduated from Northeastern University with a master's degree in education. In 1956, he began his 31-year teaching career at Warwick Veterans Memorial High School before moving to Pilgrim High School where he advanced in his career to become Social Studies Department Chair.
All who knew John realized his passion for Scotland and its history and culture, and he made countless friends through Scottish organizations and related travels. He was a member of the St. Andrews Society of Rhode Island from the early 1960s, and co-founder and Chairman of the Rhode Island Burns Anniversary Committee, dedicated to celebrating Scottish poet Robert Burns. For many years he was active in Clan MacLean USA and the Scots' Charitable Society. John was an active member of the American Legion, Auburn Post No. 20. His passion for politics and history continued throughout his life, and he was an avid fan of old movies with a particular fondness for the films and music of Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy.
Visitation will be held in The Butterfield Chapel 500 Pontiac Avenue Cranston from 4:00-7:00pm on Friday March 14, 2025. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the John & Betty MacLean Memorial Scholarship which was established by the St. Andrews Society of Rhode Island (Scottish American Society of Rhode Island) to commemorate John & Betty's contributions to the Society's mission to promote Scottish culture. https://sasri.co/scholarship
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