Donald James McClair

On the afternoon of June 21, 2021, Donald James McClair, age 87, took his final breath. He was at his Ramsey, NJ home, surrounded by those who loved him most, his son, Jay, his daughter, Lauren, and his wife of sixty-two incredible years, Patricia (Pat).

Donnie, as he was affectionately known in his youth, was born on June 13, 1934, in the blue-collar Boston neighborhood of Charlestown, Massachusetts. His father, Jim McClair, was a longshoreman. His mother, Margaret Shea, was a loving homemaker.

Donnie, the first in his family to attend college, graduated from Boston University in 1956. Not long after, he was drafted into the Army and served as a military journalist in France for over two years. Upon returning home, Don, as he was now called, married the love of his life, Pat Faison, in June of 1959. Over the span of many years, Don worked in corporate communications in the oil, automobile, home appliance, and employee benefits industries. During that time, he and Pat lived in Tulsa, Ok., Detroit, MI., Chicago, IL., Dallas, TX., and Ramsey, NJ.

Don, preceded in death by his eldest child, Bryan (brain cancer, 2019), is survived by his wife, Pat, his daughter, Lauren (Rotert), son-in-law, Todd Rotert, son, Jay, daughter-in-law Trish (Castiglione) McClair, eight grandchildren (Kevin, Margaret, Sean, Katie, Ryan, Marybeth, Paul, and Mark), and three great grandchildren (Landon, Gavin, and Natalie).

Time and time again, it was the joy of family, along with strong, enduring friendships that served as Don’s compass, guiding him to experience a long and fulfilling life.

Kindly consider a donation in memory of the former “townie kid” to: The Charlestown Boys and Girls Club, 15 Green Street, Charlestown, MA 02129.

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