By Brian Park
Paul McClain, a San Juan Capistrano resident whose family and friends say dismissed the reward of public limelight for his many altruistic endeavors, died Wednesday, August 29 of a heart attack. He was 55.
McClain was a Vietnam War veteran and retired corporal in the U.S. Marines. His devotion to service extended beyond his time in the military, however, as his natural impulse to help others guided his professional and personal life.
McClain spent the past 15 years as a tow truck driver in San Juan Capistrano — a fortuitous career choice that allowed him to practice his passion for fixing automobiles and his desire to help people, be it friends or strangers.
“Paul is the kind of friend that everybody would want to have because you knew you could count on him,” said friend Clint Worthington. “He had a great desire to help, and I think that’s why he loved being a tow truck driver. He liked helping people in the worst of times.”
Worthington recalls the first time he met McClain was in 1992, when he owned a video store and McClain, a regular customer, shared with him his interest in becoming a volunteer firefighter in San Juan Capistrano. That’s when the two became friends, said Worthington, who was roommates with McClain for 10 years. They both joined the volunteer firefighter service and served together for nine years in local Fire Station 7.
“He just wanted to give his time to the city,” Worthington said. “He had no desire to become a career firefighter. His love was for the city.”
During a 2002 social gathering at the Outrigger in San Clemente, McClain met his future wife Jessica McClain, daughter of former San Juan Capistrano Mayor Gil Jones. The pair quickly struck up a conversation about San Juan Capistrano, their love for horses and McClain also shared his affinity for cruiser motorcycles.
“We had a lot in common, but I told him I had never been on the back of a bike, so he invited me for a ride that next Saturday to Cook’s Corner (a popular motorcycle bar in Trabuco Canyon),” Jessica McClain said. “He was very outgoing — that’s just the way his demeanor was. He could be best friends with anybody, and his friends, when they’re close to him, were like his brothers and family.”
The two continued to see each other for seven years and were married on December 10, 2009. They had a son, Clayton, who is now 2-years-old. McClain also had another son, Matthew, 30, from a previous relationship. Both children, Jessica McClain said, were the “loves of his life.”
“He adored his little baby, Clayton, and he and Matthew had a really strong bond. They both loved to talk about football and go fishing together,” Jessica McClain said. “He was an awesome father. His main concern was his kids.”
Although McClain generally steered clear of the politics of City Hall, he was a familiar name and face at several city functions and events. McClain was also a regular at the Swallow’s Inn, where he enjoyed dancing and sharing a laugh with his friends.
“He loved to dance. He was always after anyone who wanted to dance and do the western two-step,” said friend Cory Toroian. “He loved to get a hold of Jessica and twirl her until she was dizzy.”
A memorial service will be held for McClain at Riverside National Cemetery on Friday, September 14 at 10:30 a.m. A Facebook page, “In Memory of Paul McClain,” has been set up for friends and family to share their thoughts. A plan is underway to establish a fund for McClain’s family. The Capistrano Dispatch will provide an update when that information is available.
