John F.W. McCaig
Lifelong student, Teacher, Artistic and Literary Expressionist
John McCaig, a native of the Houghs Neck section of Quincy who adopted Duxbury as his home town in 1960, died on February 21 at home after a long illness that had a brief conclusion. He was 84.
McCaig proudly served his nation for six years in the US Navy during World War II serving on the USS North Carolina and the USS Columbia in the Pacific Theater - in a time when the United States found it necessary to secure peace at home by fighting the enemy abroad. He served as Seaman Second Class with a certification in Hard Hat diving and loved his service.
Upon leaving the USN in 1947, McCaig entered Boston University where he was an undefeated swimmer, varsity oarsman, and skeptical student. It was here that he met and married his wife of 57 years, Miriam Baxter from Stockholm, ME. He graduated in 1950 with a degree in Philosophy.
Following employment opportunities in Virginia and New Jersey, John, Miriam and their three children moved to Duxbury where they fell in love with the community and its snug harbor.
McCaig created an international management consulting firm with clients in Europe, South America, and throughout North America. He sold the firm in 1972 and entered Suffolk Law School to earn his LLD and to begin a career in law. With offices in Boston, Cambridge, and Duxbury, he practiced general and criminal law and continued to accept cases including pro bono assignments until this year.
McCaig received a Masters Degree in Art History at Harvard in 1985 and a Masters Degree in English from the University of Massachusetts in 1994. A voracious reader with an interest in all subjects (from Africanism to Zoology), McCaig elected to continue his learning – from students – by teaching among other subjects American Literature, Biology, Business, Economics, English Composition, Religion, Shakespeare, and World History at Massasoit College and at both campuses of Quincy College in Plymouth and Quincy. He continued his teaching until January of this year, his 85th year. He loved the intellectual interaction with the diverse group of students.
Throughout his adult life, McCaig’s artistic, literary, and social passion was expressed through his prolific output in poetry, painting, woodcarving, metalworking, stonework, sculpture, and prose. Much of this culminated in McCaig’s (nom de plume, Sean Cernach) best selling murder mystery series (Body at the Bug, Murder in the Fourth of July Parade, the Howland Axe Murders) featuring hero Pete Sandstrom and his forensic expert partner Kate Sowell. McCaig wrote, published, manufactured, and distributed this series which eclipsed Harry Potter in local sales. Perhaps his most creative work; however, is a series of poems published in three books…Duxbury Doggerel, Bitter Tea, and Bitter Tea Leaves. This Robert Service and Robert Burns inspired poetry targeted a wide variety of political, social, historical, and humorous subjects. He always carried a sketch pad and sketched what he saw, remembered, and felt. He loved all ‘non-rap’ music and learned to express his love for this music by teaching himself to play the French Horn, Piano, and Harmonica.
“He knew something about everything” recounts his long time friend Dick Byrne and “had a unique way of helping people solve their own problems by offering a worldly, historical perspective that didn’t judge but challenged one’s position on any subject. You will not likely meet another person with John’s factual, informed, world view.”
McCaig was a long time member of the Corner Stone Masonic Lodge, The Duxbury Yacht Club, and the Union Boat Club. He loved golf, fishing, boating, shooting, horseshoes, all the outdoors, man made wonders, John Wayne, Monte Python, Bert and I, and his wife – not necessarily in that order.
In addition to his wife Miriam, John leaves three grateful children Jean Rummel of Falmouth, MA, Scott McCaig of Carver, MA, Doug McCaig of Hingham, MA., and eight adoring grandchildren.
Friends and acquaintances are invited to a memorial concert at the Ellison Center for the Arts in Duxbury on March 18th. The Concert will be at 2:30 followed by refreshments.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the South Shore Conservatory of Music, One Conservatory Drive, Hingham, MA 02043.
John F. W. McCaig
Sept. 18, 1922-February 21, 2007
Vivere, Amare, Discere