Joseph G. LeClair ’50

Joseph G. LeClair passed away on August 31, 2026. Joseph (Joe) was born on October 11, 1928, in Livermore Falls, Maine. He attended St Rose de Lima Catholic School until his family moved to Auburn, Maine during World War II.  After graduating from Edward Little High School in 1947, he was accepted at Maine Maritime Academy and graduated in 1950 with a B.S. degree in Marine Science, a Third Mate’s license, and an Ensign’s Commission in the US Navy.

Not wishing to pursue a career in the Navy, Joe accepted employment with Farrell Line’s Steamship company as a deck officer. In this capacity he sailed to the Far East during the Korean War supporting American military forces including the landing at Incheon Harbor, near Seoul, Korea. After the Korean War, he made numerous voyages to west, south and east Africa on Farrell Line’s vessels, rising to the position of Chief Mate.

At the age of 24, Joe married his long-time high school sweetheart Irene Gagnon, whom he met at 16 years old– now working for St. Mary’s hospital in Lewiston Maine as an RN.  His first child Susan was born in Lewiston, Maine in 1953 while he was on the west coast of Africa. When Susan was about 2 years old, Joseph and Irene decided to move to southern California.  They eventually welcomed two sons to the family, Michael and David.

For the next 40 years, Joe worked in marine transportation industry in California and Washington state.  He worked for Matson Navigation for 25 years and was promoted to president of Matson Terminals, a subsidiary company in 1984.  He traveled internationally spending a lot of time in Japan, along with numerous trips to Europe.  He survived a serious heart attack at age 56 requiring open heart surgery in the bay area but recovered well. He eventually elected to return to Seattle as an area manager in 1989. He held that position until he retired at age 66.

In addition to being a hard worker in the maritime industry, Joe was a dedicated family man to his wife and three children, doing many Sunday afternoon family outings and trips with them while they were young. As the family grew up and married, he became grandfather to nine grandchildren, and eventually nine great grandchildren and hosted many holidays and events with them.

Joe was a talented musician, playing the piano, guitar, flute, trumpet, recorder, and harmonica.  In addition, he was a gifted landscape and seascape oil painting artist, producing numerous works of art over the years.  He was also an avid golfer, fisherman and hiker. And he was a dedicated philanthropist—working tirelessly for decades to support the Kilimanjaro Mission Club in Tanzania and working with the Chief Seattle Club in Seattle to help native Americans in Seattle find housing and human services. Joe was known by family and friends for his generous character, gifting many with financial support for various causes over the years. His kindness in that regard is legend.

Joe and his wife Irene were married 69 years before she passed in 2022.  Joe is survived by a large immediate family of 25, as well as a sister and brother-in-law in Maine, along with other Maine nieces and nephews. He will be greatly missed.