Beverly - Stephen Eric McLane (Steve), age 76, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, March 28th, after a brave battle with pancreatic cancer. He is survived by his wife of nearly 56 years, Nancy (Clarner) McLane, his daughters, Laura McLane of Gloucester and Kate (McLane) Struzziero of Cohasset, Kate's husband Philip Struzziero and their daughters, Caroline and Libby. Steve is also survived by his brother, Philip Andon-McLane, Phil's wife Nina and their two children, and the Clarner family.

Steve was born to Edwin and Gertrude McLane on the Fourth of July 1949, which might be why hot dogs were his favorite food. Ed was a protestant minister who served many churches; as a result, Steve and his family moved frequently when growing up. He spent his high school years in Chappaqua, New York where he made many life-long friends.

Steve graduated from Brown University, where what he described as the most important day of his life took place on September 12, 1969: the day he met Nan on a blind date. Steve later graduated from the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University, writing a thesis that was later accepted by the Library of Congress. Beginning with a career in banking, Steve later went on to found his own financial consulting company which he operated for nearly 25 years.

Steve and Nan were married in 1970 in Rye, New Hampshire, the location of the Clarner summer vacation home and the scene of many lobster dinners and much family joy for decades. They later settled in Manchester-by-the-Sea, where they raised their two daughters, of whom Steve was so proud. While in Manchester, Steve served on the town's Capital Plans Advisory Committee and also in various roles at the First Parish Congregational Church, including as a Deacon and the Treasurer of the Save the Steeple Fund of 1984.

As more than one good friend recently said, Steve was a "girl dad before that was a thing." He took intense pride in the academic, professional, athletic and other pursuits of his daughters, and later his granddaughters. He was a champion of female success.

Steve was an avid reader and talented writer, he loved numbers and finances (he was the real math guy of the family), and he developed a major interest in genealogy later in life. He spent countless hours researching and documenting his and Nan's Mayflower roots and he was an active member of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants, volunteering his time to the society for several years. A true Renaissance man, he was just as happy poring over spreadsheets on his computer as he was cutting a rug on the dance floor or visiting the birds and alligators at Sanibel's J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge.

Steve had perpetual rose-colored glasses and a "glass half full" approach to life. His happiest times were spent with family in his favorite places: Rye Beach, Singing Beach, Captiva and Sanibel Islands (his meticulous records document 47 total visits), or any place they were all together. Wherever he was, he loved gathering for a great meal, or, better yet, planning the next one. Even after his diagnosis, he wrote in his journal, "I have already lived a charmed life. No one ever gets to do it all, but I've certainly done a full and varied amount that will always be mine to remember, and it pleases me no end that I will be part of Nan, Laura, Kate, Caroline, Libby and Phil's memory of the events we shared."

A celebration of life will take place on Friday, May 15th,2026 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Parish Church in Manchester-by-Sea. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Steve's memory to: J.N. "Ding" Darling Wildlife Refuge www.dingdarlingsociety.org or Dana-Farber Cancer Institute www.dana-farber.org/how-you-can-help/ways-to-giveArrangements by the Campbell Funeral Home, 525 Cabot Street, Beverly. Condolences at www.campbellfuneral.com.