Dr. John R. “Jack” McLean, 68, formerly of Salisbury, died Wednesday, May 20, 2020, from complications of Covid-19 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Chicago.

Born in Baltimore, he was a  son of the late Dr. G. Robert and Jane McLean. He had moved to Chicago, where his daughter lives, about one year ago.

He graduated from Baltimore Polytechnic Institute in 1970 and later from Loyola University Maryland in 1974, followed by University of Maryland Medical School in 1978.

He then joined the U.S. Air Force, practicing Internal Medicine and Cardiology for the next 11 years. In 1989, he returned to Maryland and opened an interventional cardiology in Salisbury.

McLean was the subject of national news in 2011 when he was sentenced to eight years in federal prison for implanting unnecessary coronary stents in dozens of patients, then fraudulently billing insurers thousands for the work.

In addition to prison, he was ordered to forfeit $579,000 in illegal proceeds and to pay the same amount in restitution to the public and private insurers. The indictment against McLean stated he operated the fraudulent stent scheme from 2003 through 2007.

Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury, where McLean performed surgery, paid a $1.8 million settlement afterward to close claims it did not put a stop to the improper procedures.

While a resident on Rolling Road in Salisbury, he was a member of Green Hill Country Club in Quantico.

He enjoyed nature, deep-sea fishing and was known for cultivating a variety of bonsai trees.

He is survived by his daughter, Diana McLean Grinnell of Chicago; a grandson; his brothers, George McLean II of San Antonio, Texas, and Bruce D. McLean of Baltimore; and two nephews.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at a later date.