Long before he was running with the big dogs of Southern Arizona politics, John McLean was advocating for local shelter dogs at risk of falling through the cracks.

McLean, 68, was killed in a car crash Friday, the day after he conceded defeat in the race for Legislative District 17’s senate seat.

McLean jumped into the race in February and made headlines as the Democratic party’s answer to controversial Republican incumbent Justine Wadsack, but absent from the public conversation surrounding his death has been his years of advocacy and volunteer work for Pima Animal Care Center.

McLean’s Facebook page has been flooded with comments from friends, family, public officials and members of the animal welfare community mourning the senseless loss of what many called a kind soul and a lifeline for dogs in need.

In addition to being a longtime volunteer at PACC, McLean was also a former board member of Friends of PACC, the shelter’s nonprofit partner.

The group mourned the loss on its Facebook page, but also directed its followers to remember McLean’s inspiring work over the years.

McLean was the “driving force” behind the creation of Friends of PACC’s Finn’s Fund for Good Dogs, a campaign to help the hardest to adopt dogs at the shelter avoid euthanasia and find new homes.

Finn’s Fund supports staffing and programming that targets PACC dogs experiencing shelter distress or who have special behavior needs. 

“This program has been a lifeline for countless dogs, placing them with loving families,” the post said. “Without John's leadership, these beautiful souls might have met a different fate. We will greatly miss John but will celebrate him through the lives he helped save and the future lives that will be saved.”

Friend of PACC Executive Director Torre Chisholm told Tucson Spotlight that McLean was an incredible advocate for animals and for the creation of many of the nonprofit’s programs and services.

“As a Friends of PACC Board Member and Treasurer, John was an influential voice for the creation of several significant lifesaving projects, including Karen’s Karin Van mobile veterinary unit, Friends of PACC Fellowship, and the soon to open Friends of PACC Community Pet Clinic,” Chisholm said. “Through these projects, John leaves a legacy of improving countless lives, both animal and human.”

Friends of PACC’s Development and Marketing Director Román Urias wrote on McLean’s page that McLean was one of the kindest souls he’d ever met.

“I am shocked and saddened to hear we lost an amazing PACC volunteer and advocate in this tragic accident this morning,” PACC Director Monica Dangler wrote in a Friday post on her own page.

In his volunteer work at PACC, McLean was a regular dog walker and champion for overlooked dogs. He also spent time mentoring other dog walkers to help them become more comfortable around dogs with special behavior needs.

Former PACC volunteer Oana Stratman wrote on Facebook that she met McLean when he came to her aid after an overstimulated dog became too much for her to handle.

“He was kind, helpful, and an all around remarkable human,” she wrote. “What a tremendous loss to our community.”

Volunteer Natalie Kramer said it was hard to grapple with the reality of McLean’s death, and doing so brought on an onslaught of feelings.

“John was easily one of the most authentically kind, generous, thoughtful, and caring human beings I have ever met,” she wrote in her post. “Whether in animal welfare, or in the community, he acted upon his convictions and strived to create a better world for each two-legged and four-legged life he encountered.”

Kramer wrote that after learning about the news of McLean’s death, she did what he would have wanted.

“I went to PACC to love on some pups in need,” she wrote. “What I encountered was a community of people grieving his loss too, but choosing to show up and turn heartbreak into action to continue his hope of creating a better life for shelter dogs.”

Kramer urged readers to follow McLean’s lead and “be the change we want to see in the world,” as they try to navigate their grief and try to move forward.

Jen Allen, Supervisor-elect for Pima County’s District 3, wrote that she was “gutted” to hear about McLean’s death.

“Such a kind and joyous man. John was a delight to encounter on the campaign trail, and will be sorely missed,” Allen said.

In addition to his work with PACC, McLean also served on the board of Native Seeds/SEARCH and was a Master Gardener.

Native Seeds/SEARCH wrote in a post on its Facebook page that McLean had been a board member for the past six years and was a “skilled, compassionate, and sensitive leader who provided unwavering support to staff and fellow board members alike”

As a gardener, McLean also cared deeply about the seeds stewarded by the group, the post said.

Tucsonan Megan O’Neil wrote in a post on McLean’s page that he was one of the most ingenious, caring and good humans she’d come across since moving to Arizona.

The pair served together on an insect/pest/disease committee during COVID and bonded over their two years of weekly Zooms.

“His loss – and the ridiculous unfairness of it – will stay with me forever,” she wrote. “I feel sorry for those of you who never met John. We lost a very good man and all of us are lesser for his absence.”

Caitlin Schmidt is Editor and Publisher of Tucson Spotlight. She previously worked for the Arizona Daily Star and has been reporting on Southern Arizona for a decade. Contact her at caitlin@tucsonspotlight.org.

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