Walter Maclean

Walter M. Maclean, aged 98 yrs., passed peacefully in his sleep after a short illness during the early morning of Tuesday, July 5, 2022. Walter is survived by his beloved wife of 68 years Doris, older sister Jean Mayes, son Walter Maclean (wife Ann), daughter Pamela Chan (husband Frederick), granddaughters Jennifer and Margaret Chan, grandson Ian Maclean (wife Kayla), step-grandson Cole Fiedler (wife Megan), and many loved nieces and nephews. Walter was a native of California and a 56-year resident of Sea Cliff, NY. Born the third of five children in Modesto, CA to Donald M. and Eleanor Y. Maclean, Walter spent most of his youth in Alameda, CA, graduating from Alameda High School in 1942. After high school he attended the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) at Kings Point during the war years, serving in the pacific theater, graduating in 1945 and receiving his commission as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy, serving in the Merchant Marine. After the war he went to sea as a merchant ship’s engineer for 7 years, completing multiple Trans-Pacific and Around–the-World voyages. Following his years at sea, he returned to school at the University of California, Berkeley, completing studies for a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in 1956, M.S. in Engineering in 1957 and Doctorate of Engineering (Naval Architecture) in 1967. He met his wife Doris, also a U.C. Berkeley graduate, in 1953 and they were married in Alameda in 1954. In 1965, the family moved to New York where Dr. Maclean initially joined the faculty of Webb Institute in Glen Cove. After several years teaching at Webb, he joined the faculty of the USMMA in 1972 as professor of engineering, where he remained, with the exception of a term as Director of the National Maritime Research Center at Kings Point, until retiring from teaching in 1995, at which time he was named Professor Emeritus. Walter was a member of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME) since 1955, being named a Fellow, Life Member, and Honorary Vice President, serving on numerous committees, and ultimately focusing on the furtherance of the scholarship fund program. He was also an ASME and ASNE Life Fellow Member and received the Webb Medal in 1999 for outstanding contributions to education in the field. In addition to his passion for teaching, Walter was an avid sailor and fifty plus year member of the Sea Cliff Yacht Club. He is remembered by all who had the good fortune to know him for his love of telling stories, curiosity about everything, kindness to all, sense of humor, positive outlook and fundamental decency. No local services are currently planned, and burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in his memory to either the Yosemite Conservancy or the SNAME Walter M. and Doris H. Maclean Graduate Scholarship.