Ben McCready, 1951-2023
Ben McCready passed on peacefully on July 10, 2023, at home, with his wife holding one hand and his son holding the other.
Ben’s life began on August 14, 1951, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, a city that was always close to his heart, even as his life took him to New York, Illinois, Wisconsin, California, Texas, and probably a few other places we don’t even know about. His mother Sally taught him about art, and he quickly developed a remarkable talent. His father Donald’s career eventually brought the family, including Ben’s late brother Matt and brother Sam (currently of Monona) to Wisconsin, where Ben attended Whitewater High School and the University of Wisconsin.
Ben’s career began in politics, working on presidential and gubernatorial campaigns across the country. He did everything from selling Fuller Brushes to selling life insurance before he realized he wanted to create a different path for himself by doing something he actually enjoyed. Ben started painting portraits in the early 1980s, moving quickly from charging $25 to doing commissioned work for stars like Robert Redford and Paul Newman and painting the program art for the NHL All-Star Game.
In 1985, Ben met the love of his life, Anne (Gray) McCready. They were married just months after their first date and began a partnership that brought both of them untold joy. They welcomed their son Bo in 1988 and lived together in Lake Geneva, Whitewater, and DeForest, Wisconsin, and finally Georgetown, Texas. They were inseparable.
Ben’s incredible career as a portrait artist brought him face to face with presidents, movie stars, business leaders, and legendary minds who all ended up impressed by him. He took the love of art instilled in him by his mother and turned his passion into a fantastic career. Now, his art hangs in hundreds of government buildings, boardrooms, and museums worldwide.
Ben also loved finding ways to make a difference in his communities. He coached soccer, track, tennis, and hockey, sharing athletic and life lessons with the generations that followed him. He mentored aspiring artists and offered guidance to so many people who’ve shared that they wouldn’t be who they were today without his influence.
But his professional and community accomplishments were nothing next to his love for his family. He wanted the best for his wife, son, and granddaughters in every way possible, from the best table in the restaurant to the best husband, dad, and grandpa, which they were all so lucky to have. His wife Anne, son Bo (Brittany), and granddaughters Maisie and Willow are here to carry on his legacy.
Ben lived a life that is impossible to summarize. It was far too short, but it was filled with enough living and love for a thousand years. Every interaction with Ben left people feeling better about themselves than they did before.
Metastatic melanoma eventually led to cognitive challenges, but even when he couldn’t say much else, he could clearly tell his family “I love you.” That tells us all we need to know about his life – so full of the love he shared with us, and the love we shared with him, that carries him forward on the next step in his journey.
Ben’s family will be at the Biergarten at Olbrich Park in Madison on Sunday, July 23, from 4-7 p.m., for an informal event to honor Ben’s life. We hope you can join us there.
