John LeClair Sr.

NORTH ADAMS -- John Arthur LeClair Sr., 76, of 35 Rand St. died Thursday morning at the North Adams Commons.

Born in North Adams on March 28, 1930, son of the late Zephyr Osias LeClair and Lillian Huttle LeClair, he attended schools in North Adams and graduated from the former St. Joseph's High School with the class of 1948.

A Korean War Navy veteran, he served from Sept. 21, 1948, until his honorable discharge on Sept. 15, 1952. He received the United Nations Medal, the Korean Service Medal with two stars, and the China Service Medal.

He was employed as a firefighter for the city of North Adams for 33 years from Jan. 1, 1954, until his retirement on Feb. 1, 1987. Before that, he worked at the former Windsor Print Works and also for the former Broderick Trucking Company.

Mr. LeClair was a communicant of St. Francis of Assisi Church.

He was a member of the Dr. George L. Curran Post 996 VFW in North Adams.

He enjoyed hunting and picking mushrooms, as well as woodworking.

He leaves his wife, the former Jean Ann Sebastino, whom he married on April 11, 1953, in St. Anthony's Church.

In addition to his wife, he leaves two daughters, Suzanne M. Patenaude of North Adams, and Linda J. LeClair of Palm Bay, Fla.; two sons, John A. LeClair Jr. of North Adams, and David A. LeClair of Pittsfield; seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

FUNERAL NOTICE -- Funeral services for John LeClair Sr., who died July 6, 2006, will be held Monday morning, July 10, at 8:15 a.m. at FLYNN & DAGNOLI-MONTAGNA HOME FOR FUNERALS WEST CHAPELS, 521 West Main St., North Adams, followed by a Funeral Mass at 9 a.m. at St. Francis' Church. Burial will follow in Southview Cemetery. Calling hours at the funeral home are Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m. Donations in John's memory may be made to the Chief Albert Denelli Memorial Firefighters Fund in care of the funeral home, 521 West Main St., North Adams, MA 01247. He also leaves seven grandchildren, Robert J., Mark E., and Scott M. Patenaude, and Kelsey M. LeClair, all of North Adams, and Katelyn, Adam, and Michelle Kudelka of Palm Bay, Fla.; four great-grandchildren, Molly, Brady, Emily, and Olivia Patenaude; and several nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by a brother, Donald LeClair.