Daughter of Frederick W. Schmidt, Jr. and Ann E. Hart, Claire was born November 14, 1923 in her grandmother’s farm home in Millington, NJ. She attended Bernards High School and graduated from Wheaton College in Norton, MA in 1945 with a degree in French. Her first position was in Manhattan with Van Cleef and Arpels. Claire wed Frank B. Leonard in Gainesville, FL in 1946, and they raised their four children in Summit and Bernardsville, NJ. Claire later went back to school, receiving her education degree at Kean University in Union, NJ. She then taught French at the elementary and junior high level in Mendham and Basking Ridge, NJ.
Moving to Maine in 1984, Frank and Claire built their home in Harpswell on Basin Point where several generations of family liked to gather. In retirement, Claire devoted her energies to working on literacy (teaching ESL) and mentoring 6th grade girls, considerable travel, swimming in Casco Bay’s brisk waters from July to September, various book groups, and a French group she started upon moving to Harpswell. She was a 60 year member of AAUW-NJ and ME. Claire was an active member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Brunswick during her retirement years.
Claire was predeceased by her husband Frank in 2009 and brother Frederick Schmidt in 2015. She leaves a large and loving family: sister Anne Gralla of Washington DC, son Eric Leonard of Cundy’s Harbor, ME, daughter Susan Chiocca (Richard) of Bedford, NH, daughter Nancy Leonard of S. Burlington, VT, and son Peter (Kathy) Leonard of Randolph Center, VT. Also seven grandchildren, Zachary Leonard, Meghan Eadus, Whitney Newell, Henry and Alex Slauson, Sarah Cwalinski and Gregory Chiocca as well as seven great-grandchildren.
Brackett Funeral Home in Brunswick is assisting the family with arrangements. Online remembrances may be left at www.brackettfuneralhome.com. Contributions in Claire’s memory can be made to Save the Children Federation (501 Kings Hwy E, Fairfield, CT 06825), or Curtis Memorial Library, Brunswick.
The Leonard family would like to thank all those who assisted in the comfort and care of Claire during her years living at Mid Coast Senior Health Center. A family memorial service will be held at a later date at The Evergreen Cemetery in Morristown, NJ.
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