Ronald Hanson McLean (August 17, 1932 – July 3, 2012)
On Tuesday, July 3, 2012 at age 79, Ronald Hanson McLean quietly passed away at Kings Regional Rehabilitation Centre in Waterville, NS. He was diagnosed in 2010 with vascular dementia and after a very rapid decline, succumbed to the disease less than two years after his diagnosis.
Born in Halifax on August 17, 1932 to proud parents Harold Hansen McLean and Ella Rose (Canavan) McLean, Ron spent his childhood years in Lakeview, Nova Scotia, growing up in a busy household as the oldest of five children.
After graduating from Bedford High School, Ron spent five years as a machinist at the Halifax Dockyard. He then attended the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton and in 1962 graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. During his attendance at university, Ron met Eleanor Renton who was working as an elementary school teacher in New Brunswick. They were married in 1960 and later divorced in 1993.
Ron is survived by his children, Jennie Smith (Tim), Ottawa, ON; Lloyd McLean (Andrea Haughan), Lyons Brook, NS; Andrea McLean, Toronto, ON; & Esther Mah (William), Moncton, NB; and by five grandchildren, Kristin, Vanessa, and Andrew Smith and Stephanie and Alexander Mah. He is also survived by all his siblings, Keith (Bobby) Lakeview, NS; Seward (Elva) Woodville, NS; Lawrence (Evelyn), Belmont NS; and Joyce Sheridan (Bill), Halifax, NS
Ron always welcomed a new challenge and therefore he rarely kept a job longer than five years before moving on to something new and more exciting, but was always drawn to the pulp and paper industry. He held positions at Rothesay Paper Limited in Saint John, NB, Stora Enso Pulp & Paper in Port Hawkesbury, NS, Bowater Mersey Paper Company Limited in Liverpool, NS, E&B Cowan Ltd as a consultant at pulp & paper plants in Stephenville, NL and Iroquois Falls, ON, and last but definitely not least Scott Paper Company, Pictou Co., NS. Ron’s longest and one of his most enjoyable work terms was at the Heavy Water Plant in Port Hawkesbury, NS where he worked from 1974 to 1980. He also worked one year at the Nova Scotia Community College in Port Hawkesbury as an instructor. In 1983 he began work at Scott Paper and settled in the town of Pictou where he remained.
Ron had many passions, one being the sport of curling which he had a talent for and played competitively for a number of years. This he eventually gave up and after his retirement his focus became that of dance, and he became a fixture at all the old time dances. He also taught himself to play the violin during his retirement years.
Ron was a person who was never afraid of failure and would take on any task no matter how challenging. He is representative of a generation that was self sufficient and confident, and his ingenuity and humour will be missed.
We wish to thank the staff at Kings Regional Rehabilitation Centre for the incredible care they provided Ron during his final months. Ron had spent much time in the Annapolis Valley as his parents Harold and Ella purchased an apple orchard and farm in Woodville, NS upon their retirement, which Ron loved and he often spoke of eventually retiring to the area. Although he had significantly declined due to the disease, we know he appreciated being able to return to the area to finish his life and the wonderful staff at the MacArthur Unit were so welcoming and caring.
Join us for a memorial service to celebrate Ron’s life on Friday, July 20th 2:00 PM at the St. James Anglican Church in Pictou, NS. A reception will be held following the service at the St. James Anglican Church Hall. Visitation will be at McLaren Funeral Home, Pictou on Thursday, July 19th 6-9pm.