Robert deClaire was born January 27, 1922 in Detroit Michigan. He graduated from St. Ambrose High School in 1940.  Robert served in the U.S. Army during WWII in Japan.  He later graduated from the University of Detroit with a degree in engineering.

 

Robert then married Alcida Louise Zuliani on January 26, 1952 at St. Pauls Catholic Church Grosse Pointe Michigan.  Robert was the father of Denise, Julie, Robert, Michelle and John. He was grandfather to Christina Falahee.   They lived in Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan until 1984. 

 

Robert was employed at the Detroit Arsenal where he worked in the Nuclear Biological and Chemical Warfare Dept. designing tanks and making monthly trips to the Pentagon for the government from 1946 to 1984 and has a patent pertaining to a tank engine. 

 

Robert loved sailing and ice boating with his five children on Lake St. Clair and spending time at the lake house on Walloon Lake in northern Michigan.  His other hobbies included fixing anything mechanical, woodworking and family trips.

 

He retired in 1984 where he and  Alcida moved to Carefree, Arizona.  In 1998 he returned to Grosse Pointe Woods due to illness with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease to be closer to family members.  He and Alcida were married for 49 years.  He died on April 23, 2001.