Susan McLean

Susan Sargent Mclean, of Watertown, Massachusetts, passed away surrounded by her family, on Friday, January 2. Susan was the beloved sister of Lorna Ruth and Alick Macdonnel McLean, sister-in-law of Michele Errie-McLean, and adored aunt of Sophia Mathilda, Samson Carden, Gaia Alba McLean and Seforah Alma Francklin. Susan showered her siblings, nieces and nephew with her joyful affection and selfless generosity.
Carden Ralph McLean and Madeleine Scullin McLean brought Susan to our family on January 21, 1957, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Susan grew up in Williamstown, Massachusetts, Lawrenceville, New Jersey, then Manchester by the Sea. She attended Manchester Memorial Elementary School, Brookwood School, Westover School, and graduated from Pingree School. Susan continued her studies at Wellesley College and Bowdoin College, where she earned her BA in English. Susan then moved between Paris and Vermont to attain her Master's Degree in French.
Susan read voraciously, participated in book clubs, and even formed her own while living in Cambridge. Her breadth of reading interests and language abilities fostered Susan's curiosity for people of all backgrounds. This openness supported her as she developed professional skills in a variety of fields, and guided her to a career in health work, as a peer counselor, where she thrived.
During any visit to Susan's Watertown apartment, where she moved from Cambridge in 2020, you would be met by books in every room, ranging from English, French, and German literature to travel to health care to psychology. Original LP's of Dionne Warwick, Burt Baccarach, Hal David, and Joni Mitchell are stacked beside CDs of Straight No Chaser. Sierra Club Calendars decorate her walls together with group photos of family, and a few of our childhood dog, Hector, and of her cats, Fleur, Bear, and Yogi. You might even see Bear, though less likely Yogi, who kept himself far from "the noise and haste" beneath the futon couch in Susan's study, under a framed Max Ehrmann "Desiderata" on the wall.
Across the arc of Susan's life, her love extended far beyond the books, music, photos, and feline companions in the confines of her home. She adored her father, who sadly passed when she was a young child. She cherished all the more every meeting with her siblings, mother, grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews, with whom she kept masterfully in touch. The theme of many communications was getting together in person, the larger gathering the better. Times when family did come together from as far as California, Italy, and Germany were among her moments of greatest joy, and Susan's enthusiasm, presence, and love graced us all.
Susan is survived by her brother Alick Macdonnel Mclean and his wife Michele Errie-McLean, their children Sophia Mathilda, Samson Carden, Gaia Alba McLean and Seforah Alma Francklin, many cousins, and their children. She was predeceased by her father Carden, her mother Madeleine, and her sister Lorna.
Pastor James Yansen of the Hyde Park Seventh Day Adventist Church will be sharing a prayer and committal at Susan's private family grave-side service on Friday, January 16, at Rosedale Cemetery in Manchester-by-the-Sea, followed by a celebration of life. Arrangements by Campbell Funeral Home, 525 Cabot St. Beverly. Information, direction, condolences at www.campbellfuneral.com.