Bruce C. McLean

5/11/24 – 1/18/09

Bruce C McLean passed away on January 18 after a short illness. He was the son of Charles W and Mary Allen McLean, born in Waterville, NY and attended Waterville Schools, graduating as the president of the Senior Class and President of Student Council. In 1942, he began his studies at Hamilton College. WW II interrupted his education as he served in the Army Air Corp for 4 years, serving 2 years in Panama. Following the war, he returned to Hamilton College and completed the requirements for his Bachelors degree. In 1951, he received his Law degree from Cornell Law School.

In 1951, he joined the Kernan and Kernan Law Firm in Utica and later joined Mohawk Airlines as its Corporate Council. He assumed the position of Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Director prior to his retirement. He then retired as Counsel to the NYS Power Authority, retiring again to become Counsel to Utica National Insurance Co. from which he finally retired in 1993.

His involvement in the community was an important part of his life. He served for many years as Trustee of Mohawk Valley Community College, including terms as Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Chairman of its Foundation Board, and was a Trustee Emeritus of the college. He had been President of the Family Services Association of Utica, President of the Board of Trustees and an Elder of New Hartford Presbyterian Church, President of the Board of House of Good Shepherd as well as receiving the Friends of the Children award for 30 years of service, President of Hamilton College Mohawk Valley Alumni Association, Director of Oneida County Industrial Development Association, and on the Boards of Utica YMCA, Cosmopolitan Center, Rotary Club of Utica, National Boy Scouts Council, Utica Rescue Mission, Chair of Oneida County Chamber of Commerce Airport Committee, and Village Attorney for the Village of New Hartford. He was honored by Oneida County with a day in his honor, and a street at the Oneida County Airport named "McLean Way" in his honor.

In his retirement in Florida, he was President of the Friends of the Elsie Quirk Library, Chairman of the Charlotte County Beaches and Shores Advisory Board, member of the Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow.

Surviving are his loving wife of almost 60 years, Eleanor Lea Hart McLean, sons Gardner H. Lynn of Skaneateles, NY, Gregory B Cynthia of Clinton, NY, daughters Deborah Walter Hameline of Colts Neck, NJ and Jennifer Christopher McLean-Bove of Pittsford, NY. Grandchildren: Carolyn McLean, Kathleen McLean, Kristen Hameline, Kelly Hameline, Gregory Mac McLean, Victoria McLean, Alexandra Mack, Charles Mack, Allyson Bove and Christopher Bove. Also surviving are brothers Dr. Roderick McLean of Hilton Head, SC, Douglas McLean of Bradenton, FL and sister Janis Ford of Waterville, NY.

There will be a private memorial service for the family. There will be a gathering of friends and family in Englewood at the Lemon Bay Funeral Home on Sunday January 25 from 4pm to 6pm. There will be a memorial service and burial in the New Hartford area in the spring.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that Florida donations be made in his name to the Friends of the Elsie Quirk Library or to the Rotary Club of Englewood, and New York donations be made in his name to the Community Foundation of Oneida and Herkimer Counties – Bruce C. & Eleanor H. McLean Fund.