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Richard Bruce McGee of Fountain Hills, Arizona, passed away unexpectedly in Scottsdale, Arizona, on October 7th, 2024, at the age of 78. He was born on January 5th, 1946, in Los Angeles, California where he grew up with his two brothers as well as various cousins. He was a graduate of San Jose State University.
He worked as a Certified Public Accountant for his entire career, first with the Internal Revenue Service, then later as a partner in a firm that he founded before finally becoming a sole practitioner.
He was actively involved in various organizations throughout his life, including the Kiwanis and the Shamrock Society in Fountain Hills as well as various yacht clubs in Long Beach, San Diego, Oakland, and Honolulu as he pursued his true passion in life as a recreational sailor. He was also a US Navy veteran, having served as a Machinists Mate Second Class aboard the nuclear submarine USS Haddock.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Marjorie Anne (Reed) and William George McGee, as well as his brother Thomas Reed McGee.
He is survived by his two children, son Trenton Davis McGee, daughter Melissa Megan McGee (Meeske) three grandchildren, Samantha Aislinn Meeske, Trenton Rodney William Meeske, and Shea McKenna Meeske, and his brother, Glenn Russell McGee.
A longtime sailor, he spent a great deal of his free time sailing up and down the coast of California between San Diego and Oakland, including multiple trips to Catalina Island as the captain of his sailboat Second Wind in addition to four transits between Los Angeles to Honolulu as captain of his sailboat Glory. He was a respected resident of the town of Fountain Hills, where he lived for over 45 years.
The family of Richard B. McGee will be holding a celebration of life for him on January 18th at 2pm at the Kiwanis clubhouse in Foutain Hills, 16957 E Kiwanis Dr. A resident of Fountain Hills for over 50 years, he was involved with several civic organizations and also maintained an accounting practice for much of that time. All friends and family are welcome to attend. We encourage people to wear a Hawaiian shirt and share any remembrances of him. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a donation be made in his name to the Fearless Kitty Rescue (https://fearlesskittyrescue.org/) in Fountain Hills, or to your preferred charity.
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