Stanley McCann

Lost my Uncle Stan in Tucson to cancer on Jan. 29th. He was 68. He was also my big brother growing up in downtown Phoenix during the 60's. In the summer 2003, Stan crashed (stroke?) while riding to a computer science conference in Albuquerque.


At the time of his crash, Stan was a Computer Sciences instructor at NMSU Alamogordo campus. He would continue to teach until the TBI he suffered forced his retirement in 2005 as a College Assistant Professor.


In 2016, Stan would move with his beloved cat, Shadow, to Tucson where he spent his time woodworking, gaming, and playing dominoes every Saturday with friends he had met at an apartment complex he lived at. His opinion and perspective have been instrumental in my approach to disabled people and the challenges we all face.

A 'functioning paraplegic', he spent nearly 20 years in a wheelchair without the use of his legs, but able to feel the pain every day, yet rarely complained. It wasn't until the cancer diagnosis in October 2022 that he decided to return to his true 'home' of Alamogordo to finish out his life. God had other plans and took him before we could move him at the end of February. 


Stan has been cremated and sent back to Alamogordo where his ashes will be mixed with the soil for the planting of a mesquite tree. He is survived by two sisters, Marilyn and Mary, daughter Melissa, and grandchildren Victoria "Tori" and William. Stan is also survived by Shadow, many friends, and family in Tucson and Alamogordo, NM including his niece and my sister, Dianna, in Tucson and me in NYC.


Stan and I were both born at St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix, both attended Emerson Grade School in Phoenix, rabbit hunting on Cactus Road and fended off rocks thrown by our next door neighbor, Lenny while growing up on 3rd St. and Fillmore in downtown. I was honored he trusted me to handle his 'end-of-life' affairs and am grateful he passed with dignity and on his terms. Love you and miss you, big brother. Peace.

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