Richard McClear

1935 - 2025

Richard McClear
Boynton Beach Florida
March 30, 2025
Richard J. McClear (Dick) passed away on March 30, 2025, after living a wonderful life. He was a gentleman, a devoted husband and a role model for two sons, daughter-in-laws and his grandchildren.
Dick was born in Detroit, Michigan on July 6, 1935. He lived in Birmingham, Michigan, retired to Boynton Beach, Florida and summered in Frankfort, Michigan. He loved and was loved by his wife of 64 years, Johanna (Honnie), his family, son Kevin (Theresa) and their children Courtney, John Patrick (J.P.) and McKenzie and son Christopher (Lisa) and their children MacAlister (Mac), Carly and Ellie.
Dick was a 1953 graduate of the University of Detroit High School, 1957 graduate of Brown University, and 1960 graduate of the University of Michigan Law School.
Dick had a brilliant mind, was a student of law and a lover of the game of golf. His legal career spanned five decades. He was a commercial defense litigator who was inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers in his early 30's while a partner in the law firm of Dyer, Meek, Ruegsegger, King and McClear, later becoming a partner in the Dykema Gossett Law Firm , both firms in Detroit. At one time, he chaired the Negligence Section of the State Bar Association of Michigan.
Dick was an avid and accomplished golfer. He played on the University of Detroit Golf Team while leading the football team as quarterback to the Goodfellow Game at Briggs Stadium in Detroit. He was Captain of the golf team at Brown, 5 times Club Champion at Detroit Golf Club and 10 times Club Champion at Crystal Downs Country Club, multiple winner of Father/Son Tournaments at DGC and a Father/Son Tournament at Country Club of North Carolina. He was also a member of Quail Ridge Country Club and The Ocean Club.
In his lifetime, he had 11 holes in one. He qualified for the U.S. Amateur, the U.S. Senior Amateur, and the U.S. Senior Open. Two days before he was 88 years old at CDCC, he won the 4th of July Flag Day with a score of 76 (holing out every putt,) witnessed by his two playing sons and Mike DeVries. He was a member of the Society of Seniors.
Dick was known for many nicknames, Rich, which his parents called him, Crete, Joey, Dick, Clunk (for the way his golf ball left his driver at impact) and the Machine. In retirement at Quail Ridge, on days he didn't play golf, he could be found at the Fitness Center and hitting golf balls especially around 4:00 p.m.
A family funeral mass will be held next summer in Frankfort, Michigan.
Memorials in lieu of flowers may be made in appreciation to the GTRCF (Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation) for the Crystal Downs Women's Auxiliary Scholarship Program, 800 Cottageview Drive, Suite 1040, Traverse City, MI 49684, or the charity of your choice.