John Clair McCaig

Born at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C., to Earl (Mac) and Elizabeth (Betty) Walker McCaig, John was the eldest of three children. After moving throughout the country for his father's work as an executive with Shell Oil Company, the family settled in Indianapolis in 1957, where John attended North Central High School. Nourished by literature, perhaps more than food--and that's saying something, given how much of a foodie he was, John studied English at the bucolic Miami University of Ohio.

John was president and creative director of Quinlan Marketing Communications (previously known as Quinlan Keene Peck & McShay), one of the Midwest's oldest advertising agencies, founded in 1936 as Spencer Curtiss. Hired as a copywriter in 1969, John's talent with language and ideas propelled him through roles including account executive and creative director. He eventually purchased the agency, leading it as owner and president for over three decades. Under his ownership, the agency earned regional and national recognition for work on accounts including Twin Disc, a client relationship spanning more than 70 years. When the pandemic forced the agency to close its doors in 2020, it marked the end of an era for the Midwest advertising community.

John took seriously the responsibility of stewarding longstanding client relationships and making his employees feel like family. He led with generosity and compassion, always putting their needs above his own. Generations of advertising talent worked alongside him, and those relationships extended well beyond the office walls.

John was not a spectator of life—he lived it. A pilot who loved being in the air. A scuba diver who explored beneath the surface. A dedicated fitness enthusiast who could always be found swinging Indian clubs and kettle bells, or trying whatever new contraption promised to keep him strong. A reader and art collector who surrounded himself with beauty and ideas. And a champion of countless homeless animals.

John was preceded in death by his mother, Elizabeth Walker McCaig, and father, Earl Clair McCaig. He is survived by his younger siblings, William Travis McCaig and Patricia Ann McCaig, and his faithful companions, Daisy Duke and Nala.

The family will host a celebration of life in Spring 2026—an occasion John would have appreciated—filled with good food, friends and stories.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Humane Society for Hamilton County would honor John's love for animals who needed a champion.