Myles G. McClellan departed this world in the most Myles way possible—mid-adventure, savoring the flavors of life (and yes, that included guinea pig in Peru). He was 41 years young, a globe-trotter, engineer, culinary daredevil, and beloved “Smiley” to all who knew him.
He was the devoted husband to Joanna, the love of his life and his greatest adventure partner. He was the treasured son of Chris and Tom and a cherished brother to Travis. Myles loved deeply and lived brightly, always making time for those he held dear. Oh-yeah, cherished his Jeep Rubicon too.
Born in Bradenton, Florida, Myles grew up with sand between his toes and curiosity in his heart. He sharpened his wit and wisdom at Palma Sola, King Middle, and Manatee High before heading to the University of Florida, where he earned both his undergraduate and master’s degrees in engineering—Go Gators!
Myles brought his brilliance to Universal Studios’ Creative team, where he helped bring magic and mayhem to life through projects like Fast & Furious, Villain-Con, and Harry Potter’s Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. His engineering talents took him across the globe, from Japan to the now-open Epic Universe, where he was recently named lead project engineer on a thrilling new ride. He made safety look cool and imagination feel real.
He was a soccer fanatic, playing with the Magic and Rage, where he helped bring home the State Presidents Cup. He cheered from the stands at the 1994 Olympics in Atlanta, the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, and the 2024 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand—always with a grin and a flag in hand.
Travel was his heartbeat. From the icy landscapes of Iceland to the Roman ruins of Italy, Myles collected stamps in his passport and stories in his soul. He cooked like a chef, hosted like a king, and never missed a chance to surprise family and friends with a new dish or a heartfelt toast.
He leaves behind a world that’s a little less bright without his smile, but infinitely better for having known him.
