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ROBERT LECLAIR Obituary

ROBERT R. "BUTCH" LECLAIR ST. ALBANS - Robert R. "Butch" LeClair, 72, a longtime area resident passed away on Wednesday, March 3, 2010 at his home following a brief illness with his family at his side. He was born Sept. 3, 1937, in Plattsburgh, N.Y. the son of the late Rudolph P. and Gertrude (O'Connor) LeClair. Butch was a 1955 graduate of St. Mary's High School and a member of St. Mary's Parish since 1942, where he served as Religious Education Instructor, Pastoral Committee, Usher, Lector and Eucharistic Minister. He was a member of St. Albans Lodge # 1566, B.P.O.E. since 1958, Knights of Columbus Council 297, Sons of the American Legion and Champlain Country Club, where he spent most days of summer in his greatest enjoyment outside of his family. He also served on the St. Albans Town School Board from 1975 to 1986. Butch owned and operated his own business, "Pud's Lunch" for fourteen years and worked and retired from the Sherwin Williams Company, where he spent twenty years as Store Manager. He had been involved as one of the people in the advertisement for the American Lung Association Golf card that was viewed on television station, WCAX. In addition to his wife, Beverly Clark LeClair, whom he married Apr. 23, 1960, he leaves five children, Mary Kay Burnett and her husband, Peter, of Cohassett, Mass., Nancy LeClair and her husband, Mark Deitcher of Elkins Park, Pa., Susan LeClair of St. Albans, Vt., John LeClair and his wife, Christina, of Philadelphia, Pa. and Joseph LeClair of Essex, Vt. Butch is also survived by his four sisters, Charlotte Pudvah of Bakersfield, Vt., Marjorie LeClair of Marlborough, Mass., Jane Finn of Lewiston, N.Y. and Kay Jarvi and her husband, William, of Rome, N.Y.; his brother, John LeClair and his wife, Donna of Williamsburg, Va.; his grandchildren, Andrew and Allison Burnett, Nathan, Owen and Emmett Deitcher, MacKenzie, Calvin and Jagger LeClair; his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Mildred and Orville Keeler of Burlington and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Richard LeClair and his wife, Marilyn; his brothers-in-law, Francis Pudvah and James Finn; his nieces, Sheila Hershel and Laura Finn and his best friend, Max. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, March 6, 2010, at 11 a.m. in St. Mary's Catholic Church on Fairfield Street. Butch's family will receive friends on Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. in the Heald Funeral Home, 87 South Main Street, St. Albans. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Lung Association of Vermont, 372 Hurricane Lane, Suite 101, Williston, Vt. 05495 or the Silver Towers Camp for Exceptional People, c/o St. Albans Lodge 1566, B.P.O.E., P. O. Box 87, Saint Albans, Vt. 05478. Private messages of condolence are welcome at www.healdfuneralhome.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Burlington Free Press on Mar. 4, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for ROBERT LECLAIR

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Kathy Sweeny O'Donnell

March 14, 2010

Bev, Charlotte and family,
Butch's passing is the end of an era. I was just a kid when I started going to Pud's with my family and a little older when Butch came on the scene. He had to be "the enforcer" for those people who dared to read the whole magazine without buying it, or for the kids who stayed too long at the pinball machine~but his bark was worse than his bite. And he was only about 10 years older than most of us so he could identify! In later years I would run into him at the Elks, playing cards with my brother or on his way to church when he & Bev parked by my mom's house. Seeing Butch always put me right back in the 1960s...not a bad place to be! My thoughts are with you all.

Heather Streeter

March 7, 2010

To the LeClair Family,
So sorry to hear about Mr. LeClair. We were out of town and unable to attend any services. My fondest memory was when he offered to let me pick out any paint or wallpaper and carpet at Sherwin Williams for my own dressing room at Coote Field if I was going to play hockey in high school. He was a great hockey dad and a wonderful man.

Mary Jane (Mercure) McMahon

March 6, 2010

I remember Mr. Leclair from "PUDS" back in the day. He was always friendly and upbeat for us kids. But in more recent years he was always at St. Mary's church volunteering or at the parish hall helping with the bereavement masses. He was such a great role model for community service. So sorry for your loss.

Bernie Gage Plumbing & Heating

March 5, 2010

To The Leclair Family,
Although we know at such a time there's little we can say, We want to let you know you're in our thoughts & prayers today.

Our Deepest Condolences,
From Your Friends At
Bernie Gage Plumbing & Heating

Dianne Mongeon-Budhram

March 5, 2010

To Bev, Mary Kaye, Susie, Nancy, Joe, and John, I will always carry your Dad in my heart. He was my very first "boss", had a huge impact on my life, taught me life skills, values, respect, integrity, which moulded me into the person I have become. I will miss him. It was just always that he would be 'there', never ending from the time I was 15 years old. He always put up with whatever pranks I played on him, would eventually laugh once he knew it was just a prank, and I have always said I would stay in that period of growing up forever if I could. I respected and cared deeply for your Mom and Dad; knew the girls best, and how proud he was of all his children. My deepest condolences for your lose. He lives on in our hearts and memories forever. Dianne Mongeon

March 5, 2010

Our deepest sympathies to you all. Alan & Sandra Luzzatto (Former owners of Mac's Quick Stop)

Gordon Cooper

March 4, 2010

To the Leclair family I had the privelege of working with Butch at the Sherwin Williams store on Shelburne Road in the early eighties.He was a great guy and wonderful to work with. Butch called me not long ago to ask when i was going to retire. We had some wonderful times working together. Please accept my deepest sympathy. You and your family are in my prayers. May you know Gods love and peace during this time. Gordon Cooper Peru Ny

March 4, 2010

To the Leclair family, I sent my deepest sympathy. I met Butch when we were attending the Prostate Support meetings. He always made us laugh. He will be missed. Joe Terry

Debra Blouin

March 4, 2010

To the LeClair Family,
Please accept my most sincere sympathy for the passing of Mr. LeClair. He will be missed.

Marlys(Marty) Lemnah

March 4, 2010

Bev & Family: I will always remember Butch's smile & laughter, whenever I saw him. You will remain in my thoughts & prayers as you journey through this difficult time. God Bless.
Marlys(Marty) Lemnah

ROBERT TRAINER

March 4, 2010

Butch was a great guy . I had the great pleasure to work on his & bevs cars for years .Butch was more than a customer he was a great friend .Butch always had a special touch for my dog zeb.I will deeply miss him . ROBERT TRAINER

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