Lauren S. McCready

Rear Admiral Lauren S. McCready Rear Admiral Lauren S. McCready died at his Gallows Hill home on Thursday evening, Nov. 15, from congestive heart failure at age 92. Admiral McCready was born in Pelham Manor N.Y. on July 26, 1915. He first came to Redding in 1928 when his mother bought the "old Carter farm" on Gallows Hill as a summer residence. He graduated from New York University 1937 with a degree in mechanical engineering, soon after he received his marine engineers license. He continued to work as a ship's third engineer until 1940 when he entered the Maritime Officers Training School at Fort Trumbull. Shortly after graduation he joined the Washington, D.C. staff of the U.S. Maritime Commission as a Cadet Training Instructor. In February 1942 he was assigned to partake in the acquisition and conversion of the Walter P. Chrysler estate on Long Island into the newly commissioned King's Point Merchant Marine Academy. He created the engineering program virtually from scratch and subsequently developing and guiding the wartime and peacetime engineering curriculum until 1971. During his 33-year career at the academy he brought the engineering program to full accreditation, founded the nuclear engineering curriculum, led officer training for the nuclear ship SAVANNAH, and attained his own Senior Nuclear Reactor Operator's License. Following retirement in 1975 Lauren McCready returned to Redding to live full time at the family farm where he pursued his interest in collecting and restoring antique engines and farm machinery. He served as president of the Redding Historical Society for two terms and later became a charter member of the Redding Preservation Society. A love of nature and native wildlife led his gift of land to the Redding Land Trust and a subsequent conservation easement being placed on most of his remaining land. He placed a historic easement on his 1770 home. Admiral McCready is survived by his wife, Joan Arnold of Wilton Meadows, along with two nieces, two nephews and several stepchildren. There will be celebration of life ceremony in Redding on a yet to be determined date in the spring of 2008. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Bethel VNA, 1 School St., Bethel CT 06801.