Ross Patterson (Pat) McLean M.B.E. passed away peacefully at his home in Punta Gorda, Florida in his 95th year on April 13th, 2014.
He was born 6 May, 1919 in Ailsa Craig, Ontario, the son of Alexander McLean M.P.P. and Edith McGeary.
He is the beloved husband of Betty (Bailey) McLean. He was predeceased by his first wife, Geraldine (Stonhouse) McLean in Cambridge in 1981.
Pat and Gerrie had twins, Bonnie (Dr.David Anderson), Dennis (Heather) McLean, and adopted twins, Lin - deceased (John Rinker) and Lee (John Price - deceased). He was special father to Stuart (Gail) Stratton and Diane (George - deceased) Agle. Pat was stepfather to Todd (Kathy) Bailey and Dr. Tim (Shelly) Bailey.
Treasured Grandfather of Scott, David, Craig (deceased 1970), and Dr. Kelly Anderson, Shawn and Tammy (Stewart) McLean, Jennifer (Rogers) Rinker and Krissy and Katie Price, Patterson and Andrew Stratton and Grant and Gregory Agle, and all the grandchildren's spouses, his step grandchildren and his many great grandchildren.
Pat was a flight instructor at RCAF Station Dunnville during WW2, flying Harvards and was awarded an M.B.E. by King George for rescuing an Australian pilot from a burning Aircraft.
After the war, he worked at Clare Brothers in Preston, as president of Royal Metal and Inter Royal in Cambridge and was the owner of Croydon Furniture Systems after a time in New York City as International President of Inter Royal Corp.
He is a past president of The Canadian Business Equipment Manufacturers Association, past chairman of Cambridge Memorial Hospital, past president of the YMCA (Galt), was on the board of the Canadian Cancer Society and was a rotarian.
Arpie (RP), as he was known to his family, was a fabulous role model, admired for his honesty and integrity. "You were an incredible man. You played 9 holes of golf a few days ago, and swam laps in the pool as you always did. You read all the newspapers and every issue of The Economist. You never missed a birthday or forgot the names of our friends. You were and are our inspiration. You made us see that all things are possible and that age is, in fact, wisdom. You were one in a billion. Arpie (I didn't realize as a kid, it was RP), you will be missed but your presence will be forever felt
.
Thank you Betty Grams for making life so special for him and for all of us."