Francis Patrick Clear Jr.

1939 - 2020

(News story) Francis Patrick Clear, Jr., a 33-year Toledo firefighter, who calmly faced added responsibility as he won promotion and retired as a deputy fire chief, died Dec. 24 in his Chandler, Ariz., residence. He was 81.

Chief Clear, who was best known as Pat, had mantle cell lymphoma, his daughter Heather Wettle said. He underwent a stem cell transplant almost eight years ago - several years beyond the average life expectancy in the study group he was part of.

He'd been treated earlier for prostate cancer - and the experience eased the way to his March, 1997, retirement.

"Once I got the full benefits from the pension plan and got through the cancer, the decision kind of made itself," Chief Clear told The Blade in 1997. "It said wake up and enjoy life."

After graduating from Waite High School, he became a union painter in his father's house painting business.

Yet he carried dreams of a career in public safety - although an inch short of the height requirements for prospective Toledo police officers. He was appointed to the Toledo fire division, as it was then known, on March 6, 1964.

"I was used to ladders and high places, so I thought fire fighting was best for me," Chief Clear told The Blade in February, 1987, as he was promoted to deputy chief in charge of the C platoon.

He had been promoted to lieutenant March 23, 1973; to captain June 3, 1977, and to district chief Aug. 27, 1979.

And as district chief, a title later changed to battalion chief, he had a reputation for a fair and no-nonsense style of command.

"He demanded excellence," said Brent Wettle, his son-in-law, who retired in 2019 as a Toledo fire battalion chief.

"He was an excellent negotiator," Chief Wettle said, adding that Chief Clear could get others to perform tasks willingly and competently, as he wanted them to, "without your knowing you were doing that."

"He had a way of making people feel good about themselves," Chief Wettle said. "It was a quiet confidence that made you feel good about the situation you were in - or at least everything was going to be OK."

Chief Clear stayed calm while directing operations at fires and other incidents, those who worked for him have told the family.

"Everyone would look to him to tell them what to do," his daughter said.

Chief Clear, as he retired, noted a change in how firefighters spent their shifts.

"When I came on, the main part of our job was fighting fires," Chief Clear said in 1997. "Now it is less than 20 percent of our work."

During his tenure as deputy chief, he was in charge of operations and later in charge of support services, including the upkeep of equipment, buildings, and communications. As Chief Clear retired, then-Assistant Chief Robert Schwanzl said his file contained certificates of accomplishment from courses he completed through the years, and "letters of appreciation and commendation for the work he has performed to protect the citizens of the city of Toledo."

Chief Clear had a resolution for his retirement: "I'm going to take a year off and do nothing and learn to have fun again."

The longtime South Toledo resident moved to Columbus for a time, where he met his wife, Kathy. They lived in Arizona for the winter. Summers were spent with family at Lake Wilson in Hillsdale County, Michigan. He fished there - and went deep-sea fishing with his brothers in Florida.

"He was fiercely loyal to his daughters," said Chief Wettle, his son-in-law. "That's when he was happiest, when he was with his girls."

He was born July 5, 1939, to Kathryn and Francis Patrick Clear and grew up in East Toledo.

He was formerly married to Dawn Pool Clear.

Surviving are his wife, the former Kathy Pfeifer, whom he married June 13, 1998; his daughters Dawn Clear, Shawn Englehardt, Shannon Clawson, and Heather Wettle; stepson, Nick Crall; stepdaughter, Angie Crall; brothers Steve, Mike, and Joe Clear; 10 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

A private memorial service will be held later.

This is a news story by Mark Zaborney. Contact him at mzaborney@theblade.com or 419-724-6182.