John E. LeClair, 87
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. - John Edward "Ed" LeClair, 87, of 48 Versailles Ave. died, Friday, Aug. 15, 2014, at Williamstown Commons.
Born in Adams on Aug. 9, 1927, son of Joseph and Mary Margaret Greenbush LeClair, he attended North Adams schools, including the former Holy Family School, and graduated from Drury High School with the class of 1947. He played on Drury varsity baseball team.
A Navy veteran of World War II, he enlisted on his 17th birthday abd served as a seaman, second class, on the USS Harry F. Bauer.
Mr. LeClair was employed by Excelsior Process & Engraving, a division of Crane & Co., for 43 years until his retirement. During his career, he engraved plates to print invitations to the U.S. Olympics at Lake Placid and Los Angeles and several presidential inaugurations.
He also was the co-owner with his late wife, of the former Fashion Fabrics in North Adams from 1968 to 1982. Before that, he worked at the former Hunter Machine Co. and Greylock Photo Engraving.
He was a communicant of the former Holy Family Church, where he was a collector for 60 years, and served on the Church Council and with the Knights of Columbus. An active volunteer in the community, he was a Little League coach and helped build the Fallon Field in North Adams.
He was a member of the American Legion, enjoyed bowling and was a member of the Commercial League at Mount Greylock Bowl. He was an avid fan of the New York Yankees, New England Patriots and Boston Celtics.
His wife, the former Margaret L. Wohler, whom he married on June 24, 1950, died on Jan. 6, 1994.
He leaves three sons, Robert A. LeClair and his wife, Patricia, and John J. LeClair and his wife, Stacy, all of North Adams, and James E. LeClair and his wife, Dawn, of Malta, N.Y.; two sisters, Elaine Morrow of Northampton and Rachel Crowley of North Adams; four grandchildren, John M. LeClair, Adam J. LeClair, Janine Iamunno and Vincent Iamunno, and nieces and nephews.
His granddaughter, Jocelyn E. LeClair, died on Aug. 18, 2001.
FUNERAL NOTICE - The funeral for Mr. LeClair will be Monday, Aug. 18, at 10:15 from Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals, West Chapels, 521 West Main St., North Adams, followed by a Funeral Mass at 11 at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church. Burial will follow in Southview Cemetery.
Calling hours will be Sunday, Aug. 16, from 2 to 5 at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Jocelyn E. LeClair Memorial Scholarship Fund in care of the funeral home.