John R. McClelland

John Rowen McClelland passed away on September 20, 2022, at the age of 81. Jack was born in Philadelphia to the late Edgar and Geraldine (Black) McClelland and was the oldest of three children. He grew up in Haddon Heights, New Jersey and graduated from Haddon Heights High School. Jack graduated from Dickinson College with a degree in Mathematics. At Dickinson, he met his future wife, Jean. After serving two years in the Army at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, Jack moved back to the Philadelphia area and married Jean in 1965. Jack and Jean lived in Wilmington for 40 years before moving to Kennett Square in 2010.

Jack is survived by his wife Jean (Weller); his siblings, Robert McClelland (Linda) and Mary Lynne Fichtenberg; his children, John D. McClelland (Karen) and Elizabeth M. Lutostansky (Mark); his four grandchildren, Keegan, Jack, Sam, and Keith; and several cousins and nieces and nephews.

Jack was trained as an actuary and worked at insurance companies in Wilmington and Philadelphia. At the time of his retirement in 1996, he was the Chief Financial Officer at Provident Mutual Life Insurance Company. Jack served 18 years as a Commissioner on the Delaware Public Service Commission.

Jack was active in the community as a member of the Rotary Club of Wilmington, the World Affairs Council and the English-Speaking Union.  He served in a variety of volunteer roles for the Episcopal Diocese of Delaware, St. David’s Episcopal Church, Foulk Woods civic association and Henlopen and Venice Sands condominium councils.

After retiring, Jack and Jean were active travelers and enjoyed spending much of their time on the beaches of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware and Venice, Florida. Jack enjoyed exploring his interests through coursework offered by the University of Delaware’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made in Jack’s memory to Camp Arrowhead in Lewes, Delaware (www.camparrowhead.net).

Visitation with the family will be from 10:00AM until 11:00AM with a memorial service at 11:00AM on Saturday, November 26, 2022 at the LONGWOOD FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION of MATTHEW GENEREUX, 913 East Baltimore Pike, Kennett Square.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John R. McClelland, please visit our floral store.