Avis de décès de Clyde-F. -Le Clair

Clyde F. Le Clair1927 - 2015AUGUSTA - Clyde F. Le Clair, age 87, died on Friday, Jan. 16, 2015, at the Alfond Center for Health, Augusta, with his wife of nearly 25 years, W. Joan Bartlett, at his side. Clyde was born in Old Town, on Aug. 11, 1927, the seventh child of the late Joseph and Ethel (Gilbert) Le Clair.Clyde was educated in Old Town schools and completed high school while in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper. After his discharge, he went to Husson College in Bangor from 1949 to 1953, under the G.I. Bill. Clyde also studied at the University of Maine at Portland (now USM) and attended Boston College.He returned to work at the Brewer Manufacturing Co. in Old Town, and in 1957, joined the Old Town Police Department as a patrolman and rose to become Deputy Chief of Police. In 1968, Clyde was named Chief of Police of Falmouth, where he served until November of 1984, when he retired from law enforcement. Clyde said many times that his service while in Falmouth was most rewarding and that Falmouth was such a great community to live in and to perform a difficult job.In 1984, Clyde was appointed by Governor Joseph Brennan to become Executive Director of the Maine Animal Welfare Board, which involved enforcement of domestic animal welfare with oversight of a crew of full-time and part-time humane agents throughout the state. Clyde and his staff monitored the use of animals in circuses, horse, pony and oxen pulling at county fairs, and regulations on animal shelters, pet shops and breeding areas. In 1991, Clyde became legislative liaison for the Maine Chiefs of Police Association at the Maine Legislature as a volunteer. He monitored legislation at hearings during sessions, speaking for and against bills important to the M.C.P.A. He served in this capacity for three and one half years.In 1997, Clyde was hired as a seasonal employee of the Maine House of Representatives Chamber Staff during sessions. He worked under the Sergeant of Arms in this position until Dec. 6, 2011.Clyde ran for political office twice, and helped others in the pursuit of public office. During the 28 years that Joan and Clyde knew each other, Joan recognized that Clyde's sense of humor and quick wit served him very well and his concern for others was a large part of his good nature. He often thanked her for their years together and her devotion to his needs through both illness and good health.During his law enforcement career, he was deeply involved in many activities associated with the profession. Clyde was President of the Maine Chiefs of Police Association in 1973 and 1974 and was honored by being named "Chief of the Year" by the Maine Chiefs of Police Association in 1973. Clyde served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Maine Criminal Justice Academy for three years from 1970 to 1973. Clyde instructed and lectured at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy at Waterville and lectured at senior seminar sessions involving criminal justice programs throughout the state. He chaired a two year study of the Delivery of Police Services in Maine in 1974-75. He served on the Commission on Maine's Future, and was a Board member of the Maine Law Enforcement Planning and Assistance Agency. He also chaired the Greater Portland Disaster Planning Committee (Greater Portland Council of Governments). In 1975, he was appointed to the Commission on Maine's Future by Governor James Longley, which focused on a growth and development policy for the State and examination of existing state agencies including the University of Maine. Clyde was also a member of the Falmouth Lions Club from 1975-76.He was a member of St. Augustine Church of St. Michael's Parish in Augusta.As a young man, Clyde was involved in many stage productions in the Old Town area and other parts of the state, and also directed variety shows and minstrel shows when local and regional stage presentations were very popular. He also sang in a men's quartet and won many dance contests.Known as a "people person" with a gift of humor, he was invited to speak at dinner gatherings and other events. Even after finally retiring from the animal welfare field, he pursued a labor of love and his concern for animals continued and was well known. He sincerely felt that in addition to person to person sensitivity that a society's worth could, in many respects, be measured by its care and treatment of its animals and the environment that we share as humans. He was preceded in death by his six siblings: Harold Joseph Le Clair, John Le Clair, Donald Le Clair and Elmira Phinney, Carolyn Kilbreth, and Ethel Woods. They were all born in Bath, except for Clyde.Clyde is survived by his wife, W. Joan Bartlett of Augusta; two stepchildren: Margaret Clement of South Portland and Joel Clement of Washington, D.C.; his sisters-in-law, Barbara Nix and her husband Jack of Tallahassee, Fla. and Patti Roberts and her husband Glen of St. Marks, Fla.; several nieces and nephews; and close friends Ron Wheelock, Rose Breton, Anne Pare, Mike Cote, Carol Roberts, Dave Walchak, Steve and Paulette Thibodeau, Charlie Hopper and Frank Carr and his special cat, Tonka.The family would like to thank the doctors and wonderful nursing staff at the Alfond Center for Health for their care and compassion during Clyde's stay.At his request, there will be no public visiting hours. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, Feb. 6, at 11 a.m. at St. Augustine Catholic Church, Northern Ave., Augusta. Burial will be in the spring in Falmouth. Arrangements are under the direction of Plummer Funeral Home, 16 Pleasant St., Augusta. Condolences, photos and memories may be shared at www.plummerfh.com.In lieu of flowers, donations in Clyde's memory may be made to either Kennebec Valley Humane Society10 Pet Haven LaneAugusta, Maine 04330or Maine State Society for the Protection of AnimalsP.O. Box 10South Windham, Maine 04082-0010