Post by HCFC45 on Apr 27, 2016 9:02:24 GMT -5
From Jen Toland's column in today's T&G:
HC remembers McLean
When John McLean retired from practicing law in 1980, he happily decided to devote all of his extra time to supporting Holy Cross men’s basketball. He sat at the end of the bench and embraced teams coached by George Blaney, Bill Raynor and Ralph Willard.
McLean, who graduated from Holy Cross magna cum laude in 1940, passed away last Friday at the age of 96.
For many years, McLean made every HC practice and home game, making the drive from his home in Holyoke to the Hart Center well into his 80s. He joined the Crusaders for road games, watched their movies on bus rides to and from other Patriot League schools, and in 1994-95, Rob Feaster’s senior season, made an audio diary of the team’s trip to Rice and Texas A&M. He cheered for HC players and also gently imparted life’s lessons on them.
“He was an amazing man, a beautiful man,” longtime Holy Cross radio announcer Bob Fouracre said. “His loyalty to Holy Cross was … wow! And his loyalty to Holy Cross basketball was unparalleled. If anyone ever said one bad word about Holy Cross basketball, they would get a lecture from John. He was just beautiful.”
During road games, Fouracre often invited McLean on the radio as a halftime guest. He would share his observations of the first half, which he wrote down on a piece of paper.
Fouracre spoke to McLean on a regular basis. Their last phone conversation was the Sunday before McLean died. He had lived the last few years at Mary’s Meadow, a nursing home in Holyoke. He kept up with HC basketball, Fouracre said, and followed every step of this year’s team’s run to the NCAA Tournament.
HC remembers McLean
When John McLean retired from practicing law in 1980, he happily decided to devote all of his extra time to supporting Holy Cross men’s basketball. He sat at the end of the bench and embraced teams coached by George Blaney, Bill Raynor and Ralph Willard.
McLean, who graduated from Holy Cross magna cum laude in 1940, passed away last Friday at the age of 96.
For many years, McLean made every HC practice and home game, making the drive from his home in Holyoke to the Hart Center well into his 80s. He joined the Crusaders for road games, watched their movies on bus rides to and from other Patriot League schools, and in 1994-95, Rob Feaster’s senior season, made an audio diary of the team’s trip to Rice and Texas A&M. He cheered for HC players and also gently imparted life’s lessons on them.
“He was an amazing man, a beautiful man,” longtime Holy Cross radio announcer Bob Fouracre said. “His loyalty to Holy Cross was … wow! And his loyalty to Holy Cross basketball was unparalleled. If anyone ever said one bad word about Holy Cross basketball, they would get a lecture from John. He was just beautiful.”
During road games, Fouracre often invited McLean on the radio as a halftime guest. He would share his observations of the first half, which he wrote down on a piece of paper.
Fouracre spoke to McLean on a regular basis. Their last phone conversation was the Sunday before McLean died. He had lived the last few years at Mary’s Meadow, a nursing home in Holyoke. He kept up with HC basketball, Fouracre said, and followed every step of this year’s team’s run to the NCAA Tournament.
