Joan (Marshall) McLean

May 25, 1934 - February 6, 2021

Joan (Marshall) McLean, 86, of Cromwell, wife of The Rev. J. Alan McLean, passed away peacefully Saturday, (February 6) at their home. Born in Boston, MA she grew up in Sharon, MA, attended local schools and graduated from the Windsor School in Boston. Joan received her Bachelors Degree from Smith College in 1956, and earned a Masters Degree in Library Science from Southern Connecticut State University in 1988. She lived in New Britain for 45 years. She was Librarian at the Watkinson School in Hartford for 10 years and the women’s sports coach. For 25 years Joan was a member of the faculty of the Mooreland Hill School in Kensington, serving as Librarian while coaching all girls sport teams seasonally in field hockey, basketball and softball. Upon retirement from Mooreland in 2006, she moved to New London, New Hampshire for 6 years, before returning to Connecticut as a resident of the Covenant Living Senior community in Cromwell. Joan sang during all four of her college years in the elite and internationally acclaimed Smith College Chamber Singers and was a choir member for over 20 years at the South Congregational Church of New Britain, where she chaired the Music Committee. For over a decade, she was a Board Member of Literacy Volunteers of New Britain and served on the Executive Committee as Secretary. From 1978 to 1998, Joan was an active member of The First Church of Christ in Hartford (Center Church). Besides her husband, Alan, she leaves two sons, Marshall A. McLean of Concord, MA, and David H. McLean of New Britain, two daughters, Kathryn M. Mathias and her husband James of Baltimore , MD, and Amy McLean Salls of Tariffville; two sisters-in-law, Doreen Marshall of Spartanburg, SC, and Cecily Marshall of Worcester, MA, and her brother David Marshall and his wife Cynthia of New London, NH. Joan was predeceased by two brothers Harold T. Marshall, Jr., and Peter B. Marshall. Joan’s next generation legacy includes seven grandchildren: Matthew Mathias and his wife Ali of Portland ME, Elizabeth (Laney) Mathias of Somerville, MA, Ben, Charlotte (Cha Cha), and Rose McLean of Concord, MA, and Tucker and Luke Salls of Tariffville. Joan once wrote: “My appreciation of music – especially my continuing involvement in choral music – provides my ongoing life enrichment.” Music not only enriched her life, it provided the means by which she enriched the lives of all who knew her. Her children and grandchildren will gather privately for Remembrance with the devoted caregivers from the Home Instead Senior Care Agency of Cromwell. A public Memorial Service will take place at The First Church of Christ in Hartford at a future date. There are no calling hours. Carlson Funeral Home, New Britain is assisting with arrangements. In lieu of flowers, gifts in her memory may be made to the First Church of Christ McLean Benevolence Fund, 60 Gold St. Hartford, CT 06416. Please share a memory or note of sympathy with Joan’s family at www.carlsonfuneralhome.com