Gene Clair

Walter Eugene Clair, one half of the renowned Clair Brothers partnership, died yesterday (December 3rd 2013) at the age of 73.

He was co-founder of Clair – one of the world’s leading live touring companies – along with his brother, Roy.

A statement on the Clair Brothers Audio Systems website reads:

"Gene, as everyone knew him, was born May 6th 1940 to Roy B. Clair and Ellen Mae (Ulrich) Clair, in the Lititz area and lived here all his life. He graduated from Warwick High School in 1958 and was awarded as one of the top athletes of his class. He went on to get a two year degree in Engineering from the Penn State York campus. While working in the Foreign Language lab and general electrician at F&M College, Gene and his brother, Roy, set up the sound for a visiting musical group – The Four Seasons. The group was so impressed with the sound they asked the brothers to tour with them, and so Clair Bros. began. Gene continued to be a sound engineer/mixer for bands such as Elton John, the Moody Blues, Michael Jackson and Peter Wolf, to name a few, and travelled all over the world.

"Gene sold his end of the business to his son Troy in 1995, and split his time between Lititz and his mountain home in Sinnemahoning, Pa. Gene joined the Pennsylvania Forestry Association as the Board of Directors, and spent every Penn State home game entertaining friends and family with tailgating extravaganzas.

"He is survived by his brother Roy Clair; his partner of 23 years, Betty Shenenberger; the mother of his children, Joan Clair; his children Troy (Katy) Clair and Gina (Stan) Zeamer; his grandchildren Shaun (Nicole) Clair, Matt (Natalie) Clair, Gail Clair, Kyle Keener, and Taylor Keener; and his great crandchildren, Bella, Lilly and Otto, who was born on Gene’s birthday."

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