CLAIR, William James “Bill”
Age 87, of Dartmouth, passed away on Tuesday, February 27. Bill was born in Toronto in 1936, to Henry Clair and Laura Ada Clair (Bullmore).
Bill joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1956, rising in the ranks to Major. He retired from the Regular Force in 1986 and joined the Reserve Force in 1987 until his final retirement in 1991. He first trained as a radio officer and flew on the Argus with 404 Squadron, in Greenwood NS. In 1962, he was posted to a radar site, St. Margarets, until 1966. From 1966 to 1969, he was back at 404 Squadron before cross training to air navigator and being posted to HS 50 in Shearwater NS, where he stayed until 1974. He spent the next four years in Ontario serving two of them in Ottawa as chief of programming where he updated Canada’s defense services programs and studied at Carleton University. He then attended the Royal Military College, in Kingston, graduating in 1978, with a BSC in math and physics. He was posted back to Shearwater in 1978, as the Executive Officer of 423 Squadron. By 1983, he’d finished a year as the air advisor to the Commander of the 1st Destroyer Squadron, then became the Base Commander’s Executive Assistant. He was also very involved with the International Air Shows hosted at CFB Shearwater and was awarded Maritimer of the Week in September 2002, by ATV/CTV News.
Bill had a love of sailing which began in 1954. An experienced inshore and offshore racer, he became an active member of the Canadian Forces Sailing Association in 1971, holding the offices of Chairman of the Race Committee, Rear Commodore, and Commodore. Involved in race management at the provincial level for a time, he held the office of First Vice President of the Nova Scotia Sailing Association. In 1995, he received a Sport Nova Scotia Outstanding Volunteer Award for Yachting. In 1996, he was appointed to the office of Returning Officer for the electoral district of Dartmouth.
Bill was an expert in astronomy. He could tell you anything about the night sky, all its constellations and knew all the stars by their proper names. His navigation of the night sky was very compatible with his navigation of an aircraft. His favorite constellation was “the great hunter” Orion in our winter sky. He volunteered his time teaching about the night sky at Dalhousie University.
Bill is survived by his three children, Doug (Angela), Leslie, and Ted (Donna). He is also survived by his wife of six years, Fran Coleman; six grandsons, Jeremy, Joshua, Kyle, Robbie (Damien), Willie, and Ryan; his brother, Norman Clair (Liz), of Alberta; and sister, Moya Howell (Keith), of Ontario. He was predeceased by his parents; first wife, Elaine Jean Clair (Logan); his sisters, Marjorie and Jacqueline; and his son-in-law, Rob Neate.
The Visitation will take place Tuesday, March 5, from 6-8 p.m., followed by the Celebration of Life on Wednesday, March 6, from 12-2 p.m.; both will be held at Atlantic Funeral Home, 771 Main Street, Dartmouth. A private family burial to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated to Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada or to Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia. Online condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting: www.atlanticfuneralhomes.com (Dartmouth Chapel)