Doug McCain, eldest son of Sen. John McCain, dies at 66
Doug McCainThe eldest son of late Republican presidential candidate and Arizona Senator John McCain has died at the age of 66.
The McCain Institute said in a statement that the junior McCain, a Navy pilot like his father, “will be remembered as a patriot and friend to many alumni of the Sen. McCain Institute, his campaigns and the Senate staff.” An online obituary said Doug McCain died “suddenly” last week, but the institute, a nonprofit founded in 2012, did not immediately confirm the cause of his death.
The biological son of Alasdair Swanson and Carol Shepp McCain, he was adopted by Senator McCain in 1966 after the longtime Arizona lawmaker married Shepp McCain the previous year.
Sen. John McCain reaches for his wife, Cindy, flanked by his son, Doug McCain, as the then-Republican presidential candidate arrives in Syracuse, New York, on March 4, 2000.
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A Florida native, the younger McCain grew up in Jacksonville, Florida, and later attended the University of Virginia, where he met his wife of 40 years, Ashley, according to his obituary. He joined the Navy in 1982 and flew A-6 Intruders for six years. He later became an American Airlines commercial pilot and was promoted to captain.
Doug McCain was the father of Caroline McCain Hendrickson, his wife Emily, his son Doug Shepp McCain Jr., his wife Ellie, and their son Teddy. McCain is also survived by his younger brother, Andy McCain, and their younger sister, Sidney McCain, whom Senator McCain also adopted. Senator McCain later remarried Doug McCain’s stepmother, Cindy McCain, and his half-siblings include Bridget, Jack, Jimmy and TV star Meghan McCain.
One Heartfelt social media post on May 23The former co-host of “The View” said she was “deeply saddened” to share the news of her brother’s “sudden passing.”
“He was truly a wonderful, cheerful man who supported me throughout my life. He brought humor, fun, and great conversations to every room,” the “Citizen McCain” podcast host wrote. “I will cherish our memories together. Our prayers are with his wife Ashley and children Caroline and Shepp.”
Senator McCain died from the brain cancer glioblastoma on August 25, 2018.
When asked about his father’s legacy, Doug McCain told the Norfolk, Virginia, NBC affiliate that it was “inspiring people, working for a purpose that is greater than themselves, and recognizing that America is an exceptional country and that we are the world’s best hope for democracy.”
Cindy McCain, who previously served as chief of the World Food Programme, resigned in February to focus on recovering from a mild stroke she suffered in October.
She posted a photo of herself and her late husband on Instagram last week, sharing the couple’s 46th wedding anniversary and writing, “I miss John every day and continue to be inspired by what he represented.”
This article first appeared on USA TODAY: John McCain’s eldest son Doug dies at 66
