Henry “Hank” Joseph Claire passed away on September 19, 2018 at Middlesex Hospital Hospice in Middletown, Conn. at the age of 93. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Alice (Stauffer) Claire of Haddam, Conn., his daughter Kathryn Claire of Houston, TX and his stepson Stephen Kitts and his wife Susan Kautz of Haddam, Conn.
Hank was born and raised in the Bronx, NYC. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1943 and served in World War II in the South Pacific as a radar operator.
He returned to NYC and studied at Iona College before working for McGraw-Hill Book Company. In 1949, be left New York to become a respected member of Detroit, Michigan’s advertising and golf communities for 30 years. He married his wife, Alice, in 1964 and they resided in Birmingham.
Retiring in 1983 in Peachtree City, Ga., he and Alice were active in both their residential community and in golf and tennis at Flat Creek Country Club. Nothing could keep Hank from his daily rides in his golf cart “Bessie” throughout the 100 miles of wooded cart paths that make Peachtree City so special. He loved music, especially jazz piano, and was a self-taught piano player. He never shied away from a bad pun or a good story and was always a welcomed guest at parties.
A private ceremony will be held at a later date at the Connecticut State Veterans Cemetery with USMC military honors. Any donations to honor Hank Claire should be sent to Semper Fi, the Injured Marine’s Fund.
