Sean Casey Clancy
Sean Casey Clancy
Washington Island, Wis.
Sean Casey Clancy, 57 years, of Washington Island, Wis., passed away Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Green Bay, Wis., of congestive heart failure surrounded by family and close friends.
He was born March 23, 1966 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the son of Richard and Sally (Casey) Clancy. Sean graduated from Washington High School in Cedar Rapids in 1984 before continuing his education in business at Coe College and the University of Iowa. Sean played competitive tennis in high school and college and was always available to coach younger kids during the summer on the island.
Sean’s career in finance took him initially from the night desk at the Chicago Board of Trade to the top market clearing house, Merrill Lynch. He recently became a personal financial advisor with Lakeshore Financial Group in Chicago. Sean lived on the North Shore of Chicago for over 30 years before moving to Washington Island, Wis., to be with his father, Dick. Over the years he’d always make time for free advice to friends, and of course to a few hopeful teenage kids of friends who were ready to make it huge on Wall Street.
Washington Island was always home for Sean, no matter what his address read. Sean thought nothing of the drive from Chicago to Washington Island, Wis., for summers and holidays; he’d come up for a single night if you asked. He spent every summer of his youth on the Island, played first base for the Islanders Little League team, and then gave back to the younger generation by coaching the Islanders as an adult. Later in life, he’d serve all the Islanders with his quick humor as a spirited bartender at The Lighthouse, then Karly’s Bar.
Friends could count on Sean to enjoy any aspect of the water with them, boating, sailing, or just sitting in the bay cracking beers and jokes. A fearless captain, he called nine-foot swells a light chop. He’d naturally take the helm when friends knew they were out of their depth. A fiercely loyal soul, he’d brave midnight seas to pick you up at Northport just to ensure you got to Nelson’s before last call. If Sean said he’d be there, you could be sure you’d soon see the masthead light bobbing up and down through the dark waves – regardless of what the parents had to say about it in the morning.
His wit and wink were unrivaled, he’d nail you with a zinger then wink it off with loving charm. From the golf course to Cubs and Packers and Hawkeye fan seats to backyard bonfires, Uncle Sean was there to toss a ball, pull the kids on tubes, and for sure make loving teases as his friends’ kids docked the boat or unhooked a fish. He loved his brother Tim with even deeper affection. Spinning him dizzy on the dance floor, over-serving him till he howled in laughter. Sean carried Tim over countless of life’s thresholds. Sean adored Timothy as Tim cherished Sean.
Sean formed bonds with a special group of dear friends in grammar school, high school, and college that grew and deepened throughout their lifetimes with weekly phone calls, and long catch-up phone calls out of the blue. He was the shoulder that turned tears into laughter. A forever friend.
Survivors include his father, Richard “Dick” Clancy; brother, Tim Clancy of Iowa; uncle, Leonard Clancy of Lodi, Wis. (and his sons, Scott and Len); many dear friends; his special “Aunt” Betsy Boshka of Washington Island; Godson, MJ Ward; Goddaughter, Ava Grace Underdahl; and beloved “Uncle” to an entire generation of Island family kids. Sean was preceded in death by his mother, Sally, and close friend, John Ward.
As Sean left us, his father Dick, his brother Tim by telephone, and his Aunt Betsy were by his side and he was surrounded both in-spirit and in-person by lifelong friends.
A gathering of remembrance is planned for the summer of 2024 on Washington Island, where we can all share our “Oh my gosh, that was the time Sean and I …” There will be countless hair-raising and heartwarming stories to tell. He touched so many lives.
Casperson Funeral Home in Sister Bay, Wis., is assisting the Clancy family. Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Sean may be shared with his family through his tribute page at www.caspersonfuneralhome.com.