William McLean IV, philanthropist
William L. McLean IV, 58, of Charlestown Township, Chester County, a philanthropist and medieval history researcher and reenactor, died Saturday, Oct. 24, of esophageal cancer at home.
William L. McLean IV, 58, of Charlestown Township, Chester County, a philanthropist and medieval history researcher and reenactor, died Saturday, Oct. 24, of esophageal cancer at home.
At the time of his death, Mr. McLean was president and chairman of Independent Publications Inc., a holding company created from the sale of the McLean family's primary newspaper property, the Bulletin, to Charter Co. in April 1980. The paper folded in 1982.
Independent Publications is the main financial supporter of the McLean Contributionship, a foundation that gives to projects in the areas of education, the environment, and care of the elderly.
Mr. McLean was a trustee of the foundation starting in 1997, and its chairman since 2010.
His sister, foundation director Sandra L. McLean, said he was "wonderful," giving much time and attention to the group's work.
"One of his passions was libraries," she said. Another was the environment.
Born in Wynnewood, "Will," as he was called, was the son of William L. McLean III, publisher of the Bulletin, and Elizabeth Peterson McLean.
The younger McLean was a 1975 graduate of Episcopal Academy and a 1979 graduate of the College of Art, Architecture and Planning of Cornell University.
While at Cornell, he met Wendy Whiteman. They married in 1982 and raised two daughters in Malvern.
Mr. McLean was a member of the Newspaper Association of America, and a member and past director of the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association.
He enjoyed spending time and creating landscape paintings at his cottage at the Blooming Grove Hunting and Fishing Club in Pike County, Pa., where he was the fourth generation of his family to be a proprietary member.
Mr. McLean's loved researching history - particularly that of the 14th century. In recent years, he had an article published in the Journal of Medieval Military History.
He was an active member of La Belle Compagnie, a living-history group portraying a nobleman's household in the days of the Hundred Years' War between England and France.
"He felt that engaging in living history - actually creating and using the accoutrements pictured in historical images - was the best way to test assumptions about how they were constructed," his family said.
He shared his passion for historical authenticity with professionals and fellow independent scholars. "His wit was legendary, as was his chivalry," his family said.
He was coauthor of "Daily Life in Chaucer's England," a manual for living history published by Greenwood Press, and he also drew some of the book's illustrations.
His early work included drawings for gaming publications, including the First Edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Dungeon Masters Guide. More information about his writing and artwork may be found on his blog, at willscommonplacebook.blogspot.com.
Beside his mother and wife, Mr. McLean is survived by daughters Diana McLean Liefer and Susannah G.; a granddaughter; three sisters; a brother; and three nephews.
A visitation from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, at D'Anjolell Funeral Homes, 392 Lancaster Ave., Frazer, is to be followed by a 1 p.m. memorial service Saturday, Oct. 31, in the chapel of the Church of the Good Samaritan, 212 W. Lancaster Ave., Paoli. Burial is private.
Donations may be made to the Friends of the Free Library of Philadelphia by linking to http://libraryfriends.info/donate/books, or to the Franklin Institute, via https://www.fi.edu/donate.
610-313-8102