John McCain’s Eldest Son, Douglas Shepp McCain, Dies Suddenly at 66: ‘A Truly Wonderful, Joyful Man,’ Sister Meghan Says

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Douglas McCain, John McCain.Credit : meghanmccain/Instagram; Sean GallupDouglas Shepp McCain, the eldest son of the late Sen. John McCain’s seven children, has died

Meghan McCain confirmed her brother’s “sudden” death at age 66 in a heartfelt tribute shared on Instagram

Douglas, a Navy veteran and American Airlines captain, died on Wednesday, May 20

Douglas Shepp McCain, the eldest son of the late Sen. John McCain, has died. He was 66.

An online obituary announced that Douglas “suddenly” died on Wednesday, May 20. Meghan McCain confirmed her brother’s death in an Instagram post on Saturday, May 23.

“I am deeply saddened to share the news of my brother Doug McCain’s sudden passing,” Meghan, 41, wrote, alongside a photo of Douglas with their father. “He was a truly wonderful, joyful man who supported me throughout my life. He brought humor, fun and great conversation to every room. I will cherish our memories together.”

“Our prayers are with his wife, Ashley, and children, Caroline and Shepp,” Meghan concluded.

No other details about the circumstances of Douglas’ death have been shared publicly at this time. PEOPLE has reached out to Meghan’s representative for further comment.

Douglas is the eldest son of Carol McCain, John’s first wife, from a previous marriage. John adopted him and his brother, Andrew McCain, after marrying Carol in 1965. They later welcomed a third child, Sidney.

Carol and John divorced, and the late politician, who represented Arizona in the United States Congress for over 35 years, later married Cindy McCain. Together, they welcomed four children: Meghan, John “Jack,” 40, James, 38, and Bridget, 35.

Douglas spoke about his relationship with his younger siblings in a 2017 interview.

“It was just different, it took some time getting used to,” he said in the documentary, John McCain: For Whom The Bell Tolls. “I have a good relationship with Cindy, as do my brother and sister. And I have a good relationship with Meghan, Jack, Jimmy and Bridget. We’re not extraordinarily close, but if I ever need something, I know how to reach them.”

He recalled his childhood, saying, “We did normal things, you know, that fathers and sons and kids do. The housing we were in was all basically Navy pilots and their families. There were a gazillion kids around, so they tended to kind of rotate in and out because people were always getting transferred … there was just a lot of fun things to do.”

John McCain with his wife, Cindy McCain, and children (from left) Andy, Jimmy, Jack, Bridget, Meghan, Douglas, and Sidney in 2000.David Hume Kennerly/GettyDouglas was born in Pensacola, Fla., and raised in Jacksonville, according to his obituary. He attended Jacksonville Episcopal High School and graduated from the University of Virginia in 1982 with a degree in Systems Engineering. There, he met his wife, Ashley.

Douglas later joined the Navy and became a captain with American Airlines, per his obituary. He largely remained out of the spotlight, but supported his father’s political campaigns when he could.

“I went out and campaigned some and I continued to raise money. They would send me out to do things,” said Douglas in John McCain: For Whom The Bell Tolls. “I’d go to things around the state of Virginia, but you know, I still had two kids in Norfolk Academy…I had a lot of educational expenses. I couldn’t quit work. I had to go fly planes and stay ahead of the bill collector,” he added.

A memorial gathering will be held at the Princess Anne Country Club on Saturday, May 30. Instead of flowers, organizers have asked attendees to share a contribution to Jacksonville Episcopal High School, the University of Virginia, or any charity of their choice in Douglas’ name, per his obituary.

“Doug will be remembered for his generous heart, his loyal friendships, and his unwavering love for his family. He will be dearly missed by those close to him,” the obituary reads.

Douglas is survived by his wife, Ashley, their two children, daughter Caroline and son Douglas Shepp McCain Jr., and his grandson Teddy.