John Douglas McLellan Jr.

John went peacefully to be with his Savior on April 19, 2020, at the age of 90. He was born on March 3, 1930, to John D. Sr. and Dorothy B. McLellan. John grew up in Glen Ridge, NJ, and attended Glen Ridge high school, graduating in 1948. After high school he entered Drew University majoring in Government (Political Science). John graduated from Drew University in 1952 with a BA in Government. With his father’s urging, he entered Boston University Law School, earning his Doctor of Law degree in 1955.

After graduation John had several offers of employment from various government agencies. John selected to work for the Department of Labor in the Bureau of Employees Compensation. For the next 30 years John worked for the United States Department of Labor, working alternately at the national office in Washington, D.C., and at the New York City regional office. John found his work at the Department of Labor to be very rewarding since he was helping others. During his years at the Department of Labor, some of his most important accomplishments included administering claims filed under the War Hazards Compensation Act, the Longshoremen and Harbor Workers Compensation Act and the Defense Base Act. In 1978 he was appointed Director of the Federal Bureau of Employee’s Compensation (FBEC), retiring in 1985 as a member of the Senior Executive Service. John was a member of the Bar of the Supreme Court, of the District of Columbia and of Virginia. After his retirement he worked several years for G.M. Smith Associates as a consultant on workers’ compensation matters. He also did pro bono work helping citizens obtain federal compensations benefits.

John is survived by Joan Fisher McLellan, his loving wife of 65 years, whom he met at Drew University. They were married on August 28, 1954, in Island Heights, New Jersey. During their many years together, love for God, family, and others were their core values. Together they enjoyed spending time with family, visiting Shenandoah National Park, bird watching, taking walks, sitting next to each other holding hands, and traveling. John and Joan were long-term members and elders of the Presbyterian Church (USA) both at Liberty Corner PC in NJ and at Heritage PC in Alexandria, VA. Through the church, John was involved in the Alexandria jail ministry program for over 30 years.

John is also survived by 4 children, 9 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren: daughter Linda Valentine and her husband Cliff of Toms River, NJ, sons Tom Herman of Honolulu, HI, Dave Herman of New York City, Matt Herman, his wife Trina and their children Levi and Ellie of Springfield, VA, and Dan Valentine of Toms River, NJ; John and Joan’s second daughter Beverly Froberg and her husband Dave of Fairfax, VA, their daughter Esther Mast and her husband Micah, their children Karl, Ruby and Iris of Conewango Valley, NY, their daughter Ruthann Froberg and her husband Alex Cooper of Knoxville TN; and their son Tim Froberg of Syracuse, NY; John and Joan’s son John McLellan III and his wife Carolyn of Columbia, MD, their sons Doug McLellan of Silver Spring, MD, and Andrew McLellan and his wife Shelby of Baltimore, MD; and the youngest daughter, Judy Krespach, and her husband Craig of Rye, NH. In addition John is survived by his older brother Donald McLellan and his younger sister Patricia Leavitt, along with many other loving family members. In lieu of flowers, friends may direct gifts to Liberty Corner Presbyterian Church, 45 Church St, Liberty Corner, NJ 07938 or Heritage Presbyterian Church, 8503 Fort Hunt Rd, Alexandria, VA 22308.

John will be sorely missed. A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at a later date.