Sean P. McGinn

Sean McGinn of Boynton Beach, Florida formerly of Spencer Mass & San Francisco, California, died on Oct 5, 2022 in Charleston, South Carolina from COVID Pneumonia. 

Sean leaves his mother Joanne Petty McGinn, his dog LilMiss who he adored, his nephews Bryan McGinn (Shayna McGinn), Domick McGinn (Emily Haz) and grandnephew Declan McGinn.  Sean also leaves his sisters Laine Parenteau and Malen Purcell-Estabrook and their mother Dale Parenteau.  His aunts & uncles, Francis Petty, Joyce McTigue and husband John, Dr. MaryAnne McGinn and husband Tom Keane, Karen Petty, Edward Peloquin and many cousins.    

Sean was preceded in death by his brother Bryan McGinn who died in 2018 on the same date of Oct 5, his sister Kaley Parenteau and grandparents Joseph & Jean Petty and John & Ethel McGinn.  He was also preceded in death by his father Barry Parenteau.  

After graduation from David Prouty High School, Sean attended DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois where he majored in Theatre-Arts/Communications. Sean was also an alumnus of the Broadcast Journalism program at Columbia College.  

While in Chicago, Sean was employed for several years at the John D. And Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation as a media assistant.   

After his death, a former coworker from his time at MacArthur Foundation so accurately described the Sean we have all known and loved “he managed to find the wonder, humor and outrageous in everything”.  “Every story from Sean was told with charm & excitement including, serving popcorn to Jonas Salk”.  

In the mid-90s Sean moved to San Francisco and held several television writing and producer roles which included TechTV's TechLive, Unscrewed with Martin Sargent, KRON4, The History Channel's "Tactical to Practical”, Sony Playstation Underground, National Geographic, and The Simple Life on Fox.

Most notably Sean received two Emmy nominations; the first as a writer for KQED (PBS) series "Digital West” and the second as Associate Producer for “Where Life Began”.   He also worked several years at the Working Group as the Associate Producer/Co-Segment Producer for the award winning PBS series “Livelyhood” hosted by Will Durst.

Sean loved comedy, musical theater, and making people laugh.  He did standup in Chicago, and San Francisco, and appeared in numerous comedy sketches/improv groups over the years.  Characters included Gilligan in Gilligan’s Island, Rod in Twilight Zone, and the role of Stan which he originated in the two person play “Far From Springer”.  Far from Springer was hailed as one of San Francisco’s Top Ten Theater Experiences in 2002. 

Sean was the founding member of the sketch group Uphill Both Ways, for which he wrote, directed and preformed for 5 years. The group toured the country performing at comedy festivals  in Boston, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Vancouver, and British Columbia, Canada.   

Sean was an amazing cook and loved to eat.  If you were a friend of Sean’s, you were a friend for life and likely shared a dish of ice cream with him.  

Special thank you to Sean’s friends; especially Nicole Hebert Wetnicka, Karen Faust Sim, Amy Ekleberry Perro, Mike LaBaire, Scott and Carrie Allen, Krysten, Laine, Tony Spruill, Ben Bayol, Tim Pauly, Patrice O’Neill, and Nancy Goldenberg, for their unwavering support and friendship. 

Four years ago Sean was hospitalized in San Francisco battling Lymphoma when his only brother was tragically killed in a work accident.  He was too sick to attend services. A loss impossible to get over and which brought Sean to tears anytime Bryan was mentioned.  

On Oct 5th; the 4 year anniversary of Bryan’s passing, he called Sean home to be with him and their childhood dog Grumpy.  The boys are together again; may they rest in eternal peace and happiness.     

A Visiting Hour will be held Friday, November 25th from 9:30 to 10:30am at Callahan Fay Caswell Life Celebration, 61 Myrtle St., Worcester. A Funeral Mass will follow at 11am in Our Lady of the Angels Church, 1222 Main St., Worcester. Burial will be in St. John's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Second Chance Animal Shelter, 111 Young Rd., East Brookfield, MA 01515 or www.secondchanceanimals.org

There will be a Celebration of Sean's Life at Spencer County Inn on Saturday, November 26th from 1 to 4pm.