Donald A. LeClair, 75
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Donald Anthony LeClair, 75, of 172 Mohawk Forest Blvd. died Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2003, of emphysema at North Adams Regional Hospital, where he had been admitted Tuesday.
He was a former longtime resident and civic leader in the town of Florida.
Born in North Adams on March 5, 1927, son of Ozias Z. and Lillian Huttle LeClair, he attended the former St. Joseph's School and Drury High School.
A Navy veteran of World War II, he served in the South Pacific and received several medals.
Mr. LeClair owned and operated James Broderick Trucking Co. from 1959 until his retirement in 1989. He also owned the former Union Street Exxon Station and the former Sunnyside Bar and Grill in Clarksburg. After the war, he was a truck driver for the former Windsor Print Works.
While in Florida, he was a longtime member of the School Committee and the town's representative on the McCann Technical School Committee. He also served as town moderator.
He was a communicant of St. Francis' Church and a member of the Greylock Community Club. He also was a 15-year member of Elks Lodge 487 and a life-member and past commander of both Frank R. Stiles Post 125 American Legion and Dr. George L. Curran Post 996 VFW, where he was on the board of directors. He enjoyed spending time on Cape Cod with friends.
His wife, the former Mary Lucy Newman, whom he married July 19, 1950, died Aug. 13, 1985.
He leaves his companion and caregiver, Claire Poirot Burdick; three sons, Michael P. LeClair and Richard A. LeClair, both of the town of Florida, and Kurt A. LeClair of Lake Forest, Calif.; two daughters, Molly Lewis of Rowe and Heidi Dugal of the town of Florida; a brother, John LeClair of North Adams, and eight grandchildren, Eric and Stephanie LeClair; Karl, Clement and Kenneth Dugal, and Shelby, Emma and Annie Lewis, and his good friends Ernie Cordeiro and Phil Cummings and their families.
He was predeceased by two sons, Donald Raymond LeClair on Nov. 28, 1970, and Edward Karl LeClair on Oct. 12, 1974.
FUNERAL NOTICE — The funeral for Mr. LeClair will be Saturday at 10:15 at FLYNN & DAGNOLI-MONTAGNA HOME FOR FUNERALS, West Chapels, followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 11 at St. Francis of Assisi Church.
Burial will be in the spring in the family plot in Church Cemetery, Florida. Calling hours at the funeral home will be Friday from 4 to 7. Memorial donations are suggested for Charles H. McCann Technical School through the funeral home, 521 West Main St., North Adams, MA 01247.