McCune Family Genealogy & History

Lisa McCune is a renowned Australian actress, celebrated for her iconic roles in the TV series Blue Heelers as Senior Constable Maggie Doyle and in Sea Patrol as Lieutenant Kate McGregor RAN. She has won four Gold Logie Awards, highlighting her status as a beloved television personality. McCune's career spans various theatre productions, including notable performances in The Sound of Music, Cabaret, and Into the Woods. Her versatility extends to film and television, with credits in The Potato Factory and Little Fish, alongside Cate Blanchett and Sam Neill.

Emma McCune (1964–1993) was a British foreign aid worker noted for her impactful role in Sudan during the late 1980s and early 1990s. She worked with Volunteer Services Overseas and the UNICEF-funded Canadian organization Street Kids International, significantly contributing to the reopening of over 100 village schools in southern Sudan amid war and famine. McCune became closely associated with the Sudan People’s Liberation Army after marrying its senior commander, Riek Machar, in 1991, despite political turmoil and accusations. Her life tragically ended in a car accident in 1993, leaving a legacy of aiding war-affected children, including hip hop artist Emmanuel Jal. Her story is detailed in publications like "Emma's War" by Deborah Scroggins.

Emma McCune was born in Assam, India, to British expatriates Julian and Maggie McCune. She was the eldest of four children. The McCune family relocated to Yorkshire, England, when Emma was two years old. Her mother, Maggie McCune, later chronicled Emma's life and work in Sudan in the book "Till the Sun Grows Cold."

George McAfee "Mac" McCune (1908–1948) was a prominent American scholar known for co-developing the McCune–Reischauer romanization system of Korean with Edwin O. Reischauer. He made significant contributions to Korean language and history education at Occidental College and UC Berkeley. Notably, McCune served in the Office of Strategic Services during WWII, later becoming the leading government expert on Korean affairs. His academic career was marked by his involvement in establishing Korean language courses and acquiring Korean literature for American libraries.

Born in Pyongyang, Korea, McCune was the son of American Presbyterian missionaries Helen McAfee and George Shannon McCune. His family included a younger brother, Shannon, and two sisters, Catherine and Margaret. The McCunes were dedicated to educational missions in Korea, influencing George's future scholarly pursuits.

Sara Miller McCune, born in 1941, is an influential American businesswoman and philanthropist, renowned for co-founding SAGE Publishing. Her career is marked by her leadership as president and executive chairman, ensuring the company's independence through the SAGE-SMM Trust. McCune has significantly impacted academia and philanthropy, with generous donations to educational and cultural institutions like Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital and UCSB. Her contributions to publishing earned her prestigious honors, including the London Book Fair Lifetime Achievement Award and membership in the American Philosophical Society.

McCune was born in Manhattan into a middle-class Jewish family as the elder of two siblings. Her upbringing emphasized the importance of tzedakah, a value she carried into her philanthropic endeavors.