George F. deClaire was born on September 27, 1931 to Benjamin and Madeline deClaire.  He was born in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan. George had two brothers and four sisters.  Robert, Beatrice, Cecile, Marian and Eleanor.  One brother, Benjamin Jr., died of scarlet fever when he was just 3 years old.

 

George attended Catholic parochial from grades 1 through 12.  He graduated class Victorian from St. Paul On The Lake High School in June 1949. George's father, Benjamin, delivered the commencement speech to the graduating class.   George won a scholarship to the University of Detroit and graduated Ph.B., Summa cum Laude, in 1953.  He then entered the University of Michigan School of Law and graduated J.D. with distinction in June 1956. 

 

George was admitted to both the Michigan and Florida Bars and served as examination reader for the Florida Bar for approximately ten (10) years.  George was selected to be Law Clerk for the Honorable Charles C. Simons, Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals, 6th Circuit from 1956-57.  Commissioned 1st Lieutenant in the Judge Advocate General’s Department (JAG) in 1957, served three (3) years active duty until April 30, 1960.  Remained in the Reserves and was subsequently promoted to Captain and Major. 

 

George began practicing law in 1960.  From 1966-1968 he was appointed as Judge Ad litem for the City of Boca Raton.  In 1968-1970 George was appointed as Municipal Judge for the City of Boca Raton. After 1970, George worked for various law firms until retirement in 2010, some 54 years.  Four of his employers were law interstate law firms, the last being Butzel-Long, Florida office.

 

George was married in 1958 to Donna Lynn Wartena and fathered six (6) children; George Jr., Roger “Don”, Christopher, Paul, Marc and Michael.  He was then re-married to Joyce Lorraine Carlin in 1978 and has one step-daughter, Kerry Lorraine Townsend.  George has six (6) grandchildren and four (4) step-grandchildren.  George resided in the Boca Raton, Florida area since 1962.  In October of 2014, George and Joyce relocated to Seven Lakes North Carolina.   

​

On February 20, 2021, at 7:27 P.M., George passed away peacefully surrounded by family members.  George was the last surviving family member of the 4th generation of deClaires.