John
W. "Jack"
McClain
October 13, 2013
Born in Cincinnati, OH
Resided in North Kingstown, RI
John Walter McClain died peacefully Sunday in Wakefield, R.I., surrounded by family. He was 87 years old.
He was born May 23, 1926, in Cincinnati, Ohio, son of Anna Carberry Staunton McClain and John Walter McClain.
He served in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Theater during World War II, helping operate sawmills in New Guinea.
After the war, he attended Vanderbilt University on the GI Bill. He married Mary Jean Taylor in 1950 and they had three children. He spent his business career in the pharmaceutical industry, starting as a salesman in human medicine for Pfizer Inc. in New York, Pennsylvania and Connecticut. He was particularly proud of having helped introduce the Sabin polio vaccine in the U.S. In the 1970s, '80s and '90s, he was a government-affairs manager in animal drugs for Hoechst AG in New Jersey.
He had resided in Stanton, N.J., for 37 years before moving to Rhode Island earlier this year to be closer to his children. He was sustained by membership in the Stanton Reformed Church, where he was an elder and helped manage the food pantry. In his retirement he was a longtime volunteer greeter at Hunterdon Medical Center in Flemington, N.J., where he was known for his ready smile and bright blue eyes.
"We come in with a smile on our face; we go out with a smile on our face. That's what I would like," he told his children last week. And his wish was fulfilled.
He is survived by his wife, Margaret Smithen McClain; a son, John W. (and Janine) McClain Jr. of Bethel, VT; two daughters, Marianne McClain (and Ned) Popkins of Orlando, Fla., and Judith Ann McClain of North Kingstown, R.I.; seven grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
A Memorial Service will be held in New Jersey at a later date.
He was born May 23, 1926, in Cincinnati, Ohio, son of Anna Carberry Staunton McClain and John Walter McClain.
He served in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Theater during World War II, helping operate sawmills in New Guinea.
After the war, he attended Vanderbilt University on the GI Bill. He married Mary Jean Taylor in 1950 and they had three children. He spent his business career in the pharmaceutical industry, starting as a salesman in human medicine for Pfizer Inc. in New York, Pennsylvania and Connecticut. He was particularly proud of having helped introduce the Sabin polio vaccine in the U.S. In the 1970s, '80s and '90s, he was a government-affairs manager in animal drugs for Hoechst AG in New Jersey.
He had resided in Stanton, N.J., for 37 years before moving to Rhode Island earlier this year to be closer to his children. He was sustained by membership in the Stanton Reformed Church, where he was an elder and helped manage the food pantry. In his retirement he was a longtime volunteer greeter at Hunterdon Medical Center in Flemington, N.J., where he was known for his ready smile and bright blue eyes.
"We come in with a smile on our face; we go out with a smile on our face. That's what I would like," he told his children last week. And his wish was fulfilled.
He is survived by his wife, Margaret Smithen McClain; a son, John W. (and Janine) McClain Jr. of Bethel, VT; two daughters, Marianne McClain (and Ned) Popkins of Orlando, Fla., and Judith Ann McClain of North Kingstown, R.I.; seven grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
A Memorial Service will be held in New Jersey at a later date.
Funeral Home
Fagan-Quinn Funeral Home
825 Boston Neck Road
North Kingstown, RI US 02852
North Kingstown, RI US 02852
