Claire Acly Clair

Claire Acly Clair died September 14, 2016 after a long illness. She was the daughter of the late John C. Acly and Ruth (Wagner) Acly of Pittsfield and Wellesley, MA. She graduated from Wellesley High School with the class of 1948 then graduated from Wilson College with a BA in Art History in 1952.

Claire was employed by the Wellesley Hills Congregational Church pre-school from 1973 – 1996. She was an avid knitter and lover of animals. She was a member of the Wellesley Hills Congregational Church for almost seventy years.

Claire is survived by her daughters, Cynthia Clair Kaplan of Barrington, RI, and Jennifer Clair of Marietta, GA. She was pre-deceased by her son, Stephen Whitney Clair. She had 4 grandchildren: Laura Acly Kaplan and Chad Davis Kaplan of Barrington, RI and Miranda Claire Ludovice and Dylan Wright Ludovice of Marietta, GA.

Claire is survived by three brothers: John D. Acly of Severna Park, MD, William B. Acly of Los Altos, CA and Edward W. Acly of Southbridge, MA. She has 9 nieces and nephews.

Donations may be made to the Stephen W. Clair Memorial Scholarship at Fitchburg State University: 160 Pearl Street, Fitchburg, MA 01420, or to

SPIN - 5 Overbrook Terrace, Natick, MA 01760.

Flowers may be received by the Wellesley Hills Congregational Church, 207 Washington Street, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481 (Telephone: 1-781-235-4424).

Interment will be held Saturday, September 24th at 12:00PM at Woodlawn Cemetery, 148 Brook St, Wellesley. A Service of Remembrance will follow at 1:00PM at the Wellesley Hills Congregational Church Chapel, 207 Washington Street, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481.