Dr. Donald Joseph McCrann Jr

PORTLAND – Donald Joseph McCrann, Jr. MD, age 84, passed peacefully surrounded by his 8 children on July 13, 2026, in Portland, Maine.

Don was born in Connecticut on January 13, 1942, the second child of Donald J. McCrann and Margaret C. McCrann. He and his sister, Carol M. Proom, were raised in Bloomfield, Connecticut and summered at Birch Island, Casco Bay, Maine, a place that was dear to his heart and identity throughout his life. Don attended Kingswood-Oxford High School and then went to Yale University. He followed in his father’s footsteps and attended Tufts Medical School. Don married Lucille M. Cavanagh in 1967, and he then served in the US Navy from 1968 to 1970. Don and Cille went on to have 8 children over the course of the next 13 years (7 daughters and 1 son!). After finishing his medical training in Obstetrics and Gynecology in Boston, he and Cille ultimately settled in Falmouth, Maine to raise their family.

Don loved his life-calling of delivering babies, caring for patients, and educating young physicians. He loved the joy of bringing life into the world and teaching others the art and science of medicine. Many of his own family’s birthday parties were celebrated in Don’s office using rubber gloves as balloons as “there was a lady in labor.” He bridged his very busy and meaningful career with his ginormous family with love and dedication to both. He made it to countless sporting events over the years, even if he was caught napping on the sidelines after being up all night. He was awarded the “Perpetual Field Hockey Father of the Years” and was so proud. Don was a serious proofreader of countless high school papers and instilled his love of learning in all of his children.

Don and Cille were generous community members, having donated the first large acreage to the Falmouth Land Trust in 1981. They felt strongly about keeping the land forever wild. Don was a deeply spiritual person. He was raised Catholic, and his spirituality remained steadfast throughout his life. He had a strong connection to nature, and the ocean was his happy place. Don enjoyed Casco Bay year-round: waterskiing in a tux off Birch Island with his friends as a teen; then later logging impressive sea-time hours towing his kids on skis behind his boat; duck hunting with friends, his son DJ, and his black labs; simply “poking around the bay” exploring the coves and coastline. It bought him so much peace to be on the water and breathe with the tides.

Don was sadly widowed in 1994. He was devoted to keeping his family deeply connected, and he succeeded. Don juggled raising his younger children while supporting his older children in their education and lives. He found new joy when he later married Susan B. Soule in 1997. This began a new chapter in his life. He enjoyed Susan’s amazing cooking, their travels to warm locations, and the thrill of becoming a grandfather. He was saddened to stop operating and delivering babies due to an injury in his 60’s, but he pivoted to teaching medical students. He continued to serve on the Maine Medical Center Ethics Community which was deeply fulfilling.

When Don retired, he continued to remain active in the community as a mentor and role model, including reading for the blind with the Iris Network. He and Susan were fundraisers for the Ronald McDonald House and were very active members in their church community. Don and Susan also loved raising their beloved black lab, Fergus.

Don is predeceased by Lucille Cavanagh McCrann and his sister, Carol M. Proom. He is survived by his spouse, Susan B. Soule, and his children Martha McCrann Calandrelli, Lauren McCrann Bell, Carol McCrann Coyle, Beth McCrann Taylor, Catherine H. McCrann (Bigelow), Donald J. McCrann III, Margaret McCrann Pugh, Maureen McCrann Sturtevant and all of their spouses, AKA “The Outlaws” (in order) Christopher, James, Carson, Adam, Bo, Mary, Jon and Kevin. He was Papa to his 17 grandchildren: Jack, Paul, Connor, Ryan, Lucy, Grady, Paige, Zach, Dana, Tess, Patrick, Maxwell, Winslow, Cullen, Allie, Sam, and Grace. It brought great comfort to his family knowing he was so beautifully cared for by the compassionate staff at The Cedars, and Compassus Hospice. We will all miss him so much.

Visiting hours will be from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at the Conroy-Tully Walker Cremation, Funeral, and Gathering Center, 300 Allen Ave, Portland. A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at Ocean Gateway, 14 Ocean Gateway Pier, Portland immediately followed by a reception with food and drink that all are welcome and invited to attend.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Don’s memory to:

The Falmouth Land Trust (https://falmouthlandtrust.org/)

The Ronald McDonald House (https://ronaldmcdonaldhousemaine.org/)

Foundation for Hao-Foundation Syndrome (https://usp7.org/)