Gordon Bacchus McLelland ’42

Gordon, a retired insurance executive, died Feb. 16, 2004, in Naples, Fla.

He prepared at Columbus [Ohio] Academy. At Princeton he majored in economics, was a member of Elm Club, and enlisted in naval aviation immediately after Pearl Harbor.

Called to active duty upon graduation, Gordon trained as a pilot of the legendary WWII amphibious aircraft, PBY Catalina. Lt. McLelland's four years of service included hazardous antisubmarine patrols in the Strait of Gibraltar. When transferred to the Azores for air-sea rescue duty, Gordon fortuitously met and renewed an undergraduate acquaintance with Cecil Shepard, a Red Cross worker. In 1946 they married and had three daughters, Lucy, Martha, and Jean.

After distinguished performance at Great American Indemnity Co., Gordon accepted an offer from the McLaughlin Co. in DC. In 1954 he was elected vice president, a position he held until retiring in 1986. Always active in alumni affairs, he served as regional vice president for our class, was a member of schools and scholarship committees, and was director of the Princeton Club of DC.

In our 50th yearbook, he said "rewards of recent years" included the "advent of grands" and worldwide bird-watching expeditions with Cecil.

To Cecil, Lucy, Martha, Jean, the grandchildren, and their families, the class extends its deepest condolences.

The Class of 1942