Gordon McLean

Gordon Alexander "Budd" McLean passed away on Friday March 7, 2025. He was surrounded by family, friends and the music he loved. He entered his heavenly home peacefully after 80 years of a life well lived and shared. He saw the potential in others and himself and encouraged them by always pushing for excellence. Musician, writer, singer, author, coach and scholar, Budd helped young people embrace the beauty of life with a can-do and optimistic joy. Lawrence Specker wrote in Alabama Life & Culture for AL.com in November 2022, "He inspired Mobile 'Coffeehouse kids,' and they haven't forgotten." What Budd Said (Published in 2022) is a gift to us of sayings and songs by Budd including photographs by Katya Vlasova. It is a collaboration of sharing and helping children of the world. Budd had that quality of not judging but rather pushing you to do what you needed to do and making you believe it was your idea. "We were an age of reckless innocence, of apocalyptic fears, of utopian hopes." (Children of My Heart CD BandCamp.com)

After ten years of active-duty in the combined services of the Air Force, Navy and Army, Budd returned to Mobile where he continued his education at the University of South Alabama, receiving degrees in Speech Therapy, Counseling and Secondary Education. He continued his military service by joining the Alabama National Guard.

Budd and some partners of kindred spirits opened the Four Strong Winds Coffeehouse at 707 Holcombe Ave in Mobile in 1985. Budd's band, The Mystic Gonzo Minstrel Band was the house band there until its closure in 1997. His band was a great joy for those still stuck in the 60's and 70's peace and justice movements. Their music oddly enough caught the ears of the 80's kids, and the rest of the story is now history.

The Mystic Gonzo Minstrel Band also had the pleasure of performing on a number of stages at Mobile's popular Bayfest from the beginning until its closure in 2014.

He was instrumental in developing The Mobile Press Register's Newspaper In Education Program, conducting workshops for teachers on how to use the newspaper in education as a teaching tool.

He returned to his alma mater, Murphy High School where he coached golf, taught psychology and inspired many students to "go on" to their great destiny. In all his endeavors, helping and loving were his passions.

The family wishes to extend a special thanks to the following doctors, their nurses, etc. for their friendship, compassion, love and care of Budd: Dr. Thomas McGee, Dr. Ziad Alnoah, Dr. L. Steve Weinstein, Dr. Adrian DiVittorio, Dr. Matthew McLean, Dr. Lee Thompson and Dr. Gregory Cummings, VA.

He is preceded in death by his mother and father, Mary Catherine and Alexander McLean, sisters Virginia Carol McLean, Esther McLean and Catherine McLean Grimes. Budd is survived by his wife, Connie Dixon McLean, brothers David (Angie) McLean, Beedie (Jackie) McLean, sister Mary Ann McLean Cowart, sisters-in-law Lucy (Steve) Weinsein and Jean (Randy) Fausak, and dear friends Ronald and Moyra Carlisle and their three children, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and adopted students.

The Reverend John Talbert, St. John's Episcopal Church, will be officiating the Celebration of Life Service on April 26, 2025. Visitation will be at 2:00 p.m. with the Celebration of Life Service at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. John's Episcopal Church, 1707 Government Street, Mobile, Alabama 36604.