Obituary of Shane McMullen

Shane McMullen, dearly loved husband of Denise, father of Jason and Cristin, son-in-law of Marion, and alpha dog of Maggie, Kim and Willie was taken from us suddenly on Thursday, December 22nd. He was 55 years old. Shane was born in Manitoba, the only child of Jack and Marie McMullen. Marie’s family included several exceptional skaters and Shane began learning to set an edge by the age of three. His love of the ice developed into a love of hockey (his team was the New York Rangers where his uncle Mac had once played) and he played himself whenever he could. Eventually Shane found his way to a Brandon Wheat Kings Junior B team and later in life, for many years, he coached elite fourteen year olds, vicariously making it to the NHL with several of them. Shane was a founder and director of the Southern Alberta Selects Hockey Association, an organization dedicated to the development of such young players. In 1966, Shane’s rebellious ways earned him an unintended pass out to high school to Edmonton where his father had relocated. Jack advised the NHL hopeful that if he was not in school he was most certainly to be hard at work and sent him north to the rigs. There Shane learned two things – that he was far too lightly built for either pro hockey or roughnecking and that education after all had it merits. He became a Chartered Accountant. Shane’s professional career developed entirely within the firm now called Deloitte. He was a “one year write” in 1973 and an international tax partner by 1983, one of the youngest his firm ever made. When he retired from public practice in 2003 he was a senior partner known on a global basis as a Canadian cross border specialist who had played a significant role in building Deloitte’s Calgary tax practice. No less significantly, Shane was a mentor to those young partners who would step into his shoes. His pride in those achievements was enormous. Jason and Cristin were born to Shane and first love Glennis in 1978 and 1980. Shane was as delighted by their bright and curious minds as he was by their athletic and artistic talents. Shane and Denise met in 1990 as fellow tax practitioners and married in 1995. Their joy was each other, their lovely home and their many animals. Nothing can reconcile the loss of this fine, loving man, but those wishing to make a tribute to him are invited to contribute to the Shane McMullen Legacy Foundation, c/o Burnet Duckworth & Palmer, 1400, 350-7th Avenue S.W., Calgary, AB T2P 3N9, in support of education for disadvantaged amateur athletes, medical research and animal rescue. A Memorial Service will be held for Shane at Christ Church Elbow Park (3602 – 8th Street S.W.) on Thursday, January 12, 2006 at 4:00 p.m. followed by a celebration of Shane’s life at the Calgary Golf & Country Club. Forward condolences to www.mcinnisandandholloway.com. In living memory of Shane McMullen, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES Park Memorial Chapel, 5008 ELBOW DRIVE S.W. Telephone: (403) 243-8200.