SWAN’S ISLAND – Stephen J. McCormick, 97, died Nov. 30, 2011, in Bar Harbor. He was born May 4, 1914, in Taunton, Mass., son of Stephen J. and Mary Gaffney McCormick.
Raised in Taunton and Cambridge, Mass., he attended Boston University before heading to Washington, D.C., in the mid-1930s, where he landed a job at the local radio station. He became Mutual Broadcasting’s White House correspondent in 1935 during the Roosevelt era and hosted Fireside Chats. The Army draft interrupted and he served in the South Pacific in World War II where he was awarded the Bronze Star and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel. At the war’s end, he met his future wife, Theo Henelt. They returned to Washington, D.C., were married, and had a husband and wife radio show for a time on WOL. He covered the terms of four presidents and moderated two NBC news-related TV shows in the 1950s, and was featured in the Doris Day Jack Lemmon movie “It Happened To Jane.” He served as executive vice president of Mutual Broadcasting for many years – covering everything from the political conventions, the NASA Space program, to Antarctica. Steve was a member of National Press Club, White House Correspondents Association and Army Navy Club. He was very proud to be awarded the Swan’s Island Boston Post Cane in 2009. Quick witted, he loved current events and history, and was always ready with a fascinating story. Steve will be greatly missed by his family and the caring community of Swan’s Island.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 66 years, Theo of Swan’s Island; daughter, Teddi Harrison and husband, Jim, of Carlsbad, N.M.; son-in-law, Jeff Delano of Alexandria, Va.; grandchildren, Michele Brenneman and husband, Jerome, of Kennesaw, Ga., Catherine Harrison of New York City, Kassen Delano of Pittsburgh, Stephen Delano of Alexandria, Va., and Chris Delano of Richmond, Va.; and a great-grandchild, Kyra Brenneman of Kennesaw, Ga. He was predeceased by his parents; brothers, Tom and Jack McCormick; and daughter, Patricia Delano.
A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, at Swan’s Island Baptist Church. Arrangements by: Jordan-Fernald, 1139 Main St., Mount Desert. Condolences may be expressed at
www.jordanfernald.com.