JOHN W. MCWANE

1940 - 2021

McWANE, John W. My wonderful husband, John Whitman McWane, grew up in a magical small-town Milan, Ohio, which is famously known as Thomas Edison's birthplace. John was an extremely bright little boy, who enjoyed entertaining his classmates, so much so that his teachers would put him behind a piano in class so he could not be seen by his classmates. John loved to say he was a four-season letterman in high school but, he admitted, his town was so small they had to take anyone they could to make up a team! His high school job was perfect for a mid-western teenager in the 1950's, as the Soda Jerk at the local hang out on the town square. He was always drinking Vanilla Coke and having squirt contests to see if ketchup or mustard went the farthest. Off he went to join his brother Dr. Pearson (Pete) D. McWane, at The Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia. Both boys following in their Father Gerould R. McWane's footsteps (who was married to Sarah H. McWane of Lowell, MA) as VMI alumni. John graduated with a degree in Physics and held leadership positions within the VMI corps of cadets. One of his highlights at VMI was marching in President John F. Kennedy's inaugural parade. He did not become a soldier, as he was too blind for battle. John was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study in Holland, an adventure he remembered fondly. He attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and earned a PhD in Physics. After graduating, John worked at MIT establishing Technical Schools in Iran (before the revolution). He then went to work at Hewlett-Packard for the next 30+ years. Coming home each day to Erin, our Irish Setter, who greeted him with the joy the rest of us should have been expressing daily. He would then disappear down to the basement, "Daddy's Workshop," and put on his carpenter hat. In Hamilton, Massachusetts, he was known as Farmer John, always caring for his old 1690's farmhouse and the surrounding fields on Woodbury Street, where he lived for 50 years. He served on the Hamilton-Wenham School Committee for 15 years and was instrumental in the funding and construction of the new middle school and rehab of the high school. His children would complain that they got blamed by the other students when they did not get snow days! He also worked tirelessly for his community in various organizations. John Elwell, the former HWRHS principal, said "John's efforts and contributions were important in the lives of hundreds if not thousands of children. The world is a better place because of John McWane." During his studies at MIT, John met me, Jane Smith, a city girl from Lynn, Massachusetts, at the Penguin Ski Lodge during a skiing trip to North Conway, New Hampshire. At 19, I made the best decision of my life to marry this kind, compassionate, wonderful gentleman 53 years ago. Our children say our 55-year romance was an example to all. He was called Dad by his children, Katie McWane Diecker of Los Angeles, CA, Sarah McWane of Annapolis, MD, and David McWane of Hamilton, MA. To the joys of life, his grandkids, Zachary, Amelia , Parker, Charlie, Finnley and Ollie, John was known as Pop Pop and sometimes Puppy! Kurt (Sarah's husband), Aaron (Katie's husband) and Brie (Dave's wife) would say that he was "The Best Father-in-law" ever. I called him Johnny, just like his mom always did. He was the kindest, truest gentleman in every sense. His family and friends and I will all miss him dearly. John Whitman McWane was born on May 27, 1940 and died December 23, 2021 at the age of 81, surrounded by his family. Services will be held at a later date in the spring. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in his name to Cure SHANK, a small medical charity whose purpose is to accelerate the development of treatments for children with Phelan-McDermid Syndrome and SHANK-related rare genetic conditions. Arrangements by the Campbell Funeral Home, 525 Cabot Street, BEVERLY. Information, directions, condolences at www.campbellfuneral.com