Jean Claude C. Lambrechts

When Claude Lambrechts, owner of the hair salon Claude de Paris in Bailey’s Crossroads for over three decades, applied for a U.S. visa in 1968, American officials jokingly said they couldn’t deny him one since he was born on the Fourth of July. Doors had a way of opening for the charming Frenchman, 70, who passed away peacefully Friday, May 9, 2014 at the Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, his loving family by his bedside, a quintessential example of the American Dream fulfilled.

His unrelenting passion for his craft, which in the course of decades saw him cutting hair while on crutches, working even through broken ribs, fingers and a wrist sustained in skiing accidents, led to the immense success of his salon. A large percentage of his long list of clients remained with him for more than 30 years, some of them for over 40 years. They came not just for the expert cuts, color and styling, but for Claude’s joie de vivre, his life advice, his ability to listen and keep confidences.

While employing a staff of 15 at the salon’s peak, Claude shared his skills and mentored younger hairdressers and assistants, many of whom became successful in their own right. Claude so loved his work that he firmly resisted retirement until this past January. An avid and talented painter of landscapes and seascapes in acrylic, he had looked forward to picking up a paintbrush again, stubbornly wrestling with Sudoku puzzles and playing cards and games with his family.

Only his devotion to his family topped his professional drive. He was an eternally thoughtful husband, never failing to bring his wife, Wendy, a weekly bouquet of flowers. A hands-on dad, he was a constant and entertaining presence at father/daughter dances, field hockey, tennis and lacrosse games. He taught his two daughters to drive and parallel park perfectly while blindfolded and infected them with a love of skiing and swimming.

Over the years, he and Wendy returned to France on many occasions to visit his father, Constant, a contractor, his mother Genevieve, a homemaker, and his sister and 3 brothers. Among them, he is now survived only by his brother, Michel. In Northern Virginia, he is survived by his beloved wife and business partner of 34 years, Wendy Lambrechts, his daughters, Natasha Collin and Brittany Camacho, sons-in-law, Scott Collin and Gustavo Camacho, and grandchildren, Zoe and Luke, whom he doted on and bribed with pocketfuls of peanut M&Ms. Even though his first marriage to Jennifer Bettius ended in divorce, a lifelong friendship ensued between the families. The family will welcome friends at a “French wake” at Maggiano’s in Tyson’s Galleria this Sunday, May 18th from 5:30 – 7:30pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jean Claude Lambrechts’ memory to the Virginia Hospital Center Foundation 1701 N. George Mason Dr. Arlington, VA 22205. Arrangements under the direction of National Funeral Home, Falls Church, VA.