Gary Francis Auclair

Gary Francis Auclair, first child of Leonard Lionel Auclair and Germaine Larochelle, was born on Feb. 27, 1938 in Winthrop, Maine. He was baptized at St. Francis Xavier Church in Winthrop with his uncle Robert Fleury and aunt Antoinette Larochelle Fleury as his Godparents. St. Francis was his parish during his growing years and he served there as an altar boy.
He attended local Winthrop schools, and graduated as Valedictorian of Winthrop High School in June 1956 where he was active in all sports. He graduated from the University of Maine in June 1960 with honors and a degree in Engineering Physics, and obtained his Master's degree in Engineering from Union College in Schenectady, NY. He began his working career as an engineer for GE in Schenectady, and Johnson City, NY. Life took a new turn when he married his wife, Jackie, in June 1964, and welcomed their first son Gary L. in 1965, and identical twin sons in 1966. In May of 1972 he began work for Lockheed Missiles and Space Corp. in Sunnyvale, CA where he held various managerial positions, and was promoted to Vice-President, Engineering and Technology in May 1987. His work was mainly with space craft and various types of satellites and he was very good at what he did. After retirement in 1998, he joined various retirement groups, was active in his church, did all the handyman stuff around the house, was on the board of Birthright of San Jose, and loved to learn new things. Travel took him and Jackie to many areas of the world, and Hawaii and Maine were their go to relaxing spots.
His twin sons, due to job relocation, moved to Reno, Nevada in 2000, and at that time Gary had a second home built in the mountains south of Reno. This allowed him and Jackie to visit the grandchildren a week every month. He thoroughly enjoyed playing games with the grandchildren, and many other activities such as swimming, tennis, geocaching, and attending their school functions. Close proximity to the ski areas made the second home even more enjoyable. Fun times were spent with their older son who lived outside of Las Vegas. Gary was a kind, loving, and gentle man who always had good and loving thoughts about most people.
Gary is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Jacqueline, his sons, Gary and wife Jane Auclair; Brian and wife Alicia Blockinger Auclair and their children Cody and Megan Auclair; and Bruce and his daughter, Ashley Borlik Auclair. He also leaves behind his two brothers, Paul Auclair and wife Deborah, Daniel Auclair and wife Judith, and two sisters, Louise Riley and husband Peter, and Anita Haskell, plus numerous nieces and nephews, and the loving Marriage Encounter group of close friends of 49 years.
The Kaiser doctors and nurses who cared for Gary during this long journey with his cancer were absolutely outstanding, as was Kaiser Hospice.
Information will follow regarding a Mass and Celebration of life. His ashes will be interred in Winthrop, Maine, Glenside Cemetery sometime during the summer. If one feels they would like to make a donation in Gary's name, please make it to Birthright of San Jose.