Benjamin W. Mccleary

Benjamin Ward McCleary, of Wakefield, Rhode Island, died peacefully at home on October 6, 2022. Born on July 9,1944 to George W. and Nancy Grim McCleary, he was raised in Darien, CT and Asheville, NC. He was a graduate of St. Mark’s School in Southborough, MA and Princeton University. Upon graduation in 1966, he entered The United States Navy Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War during which he served as Ship’s Navigator and Ship Officer aboard the USS Mauna Loa.

He began his professional career at Chemical Bank in New York in 1969. In 1979, he was the lead banker for the historic government bailout of The Chrysler Corporation. In 1981, he joined Lehman Brothers and in 1986, he moved to London to head up Shearson Lehman Hutton’s European Investment Banking Division. In 1989 he returned to New York and became a partner at McFarland Dewey & Co., an investment banking firm. In 2005 he moved to RI and became a partner at SeaView Capital in Providence. He also served on the board of directors for Detrex Corporation.

Lovingly referred to as Gentle Ben (GB) by his family and close friends, he was a true gentleman who was known for his sweet disposition, grace and humble demeanor. While he had many passions in life, he was best known for being a voracious reader, collector of antique maps, a railway aficionado and a devout fan of everything produced by Motown Records. In addition, he was a longtime member of The Coral Beach and Tennis Club in Bermuda, The Mill Reef Club in Antigua, The Dunes Club in Narragansett, RI where he served as President from 2011 to 2015 and the Hope Club in Providence, RI.

He will be deeply missed and is survived by his wife, Jean (Muchmore), son Benjamin P. McCleary (Marjorie)of Dedham, MA, daughter Katherine C. McCleary-Garnett (Alexander)of New York, NY, his brothers Joel W. McCleary of Washington, D.C. and George W. McCleary, Jr. (Judith) of Miami, FL. He also leaves behind five granddaughters and Hobcyn, his devoted Welsh Terrier.

A memorial service will be held at St. Peter’s by-the-Sea, Narragansett, RI on Thursday, October 20th at 11:00 am.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to South County Hospital’s Cancer Center, 100 Kenyon Ave., Wakefield, RI 02879 and HopeHealth, 1085 North Main St., Providence, RI 02904.