1928
Frank
2013
Frank R. Dair
January 4, 1928 — May 31, 2013
Frank Richard Dair, 85, passed away peacefully at the Emerald Isle hospice in San Pedro on Friday, May 31, just two months after the death of his beloved wife, Ruth. They would have celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary on June 9.
A life-long resident of Los Angeles County, Frank was born on January 4, 1928 in Bell and raised in Glendale. After serving in the Navy, he attended college on the G.I. bill and graduated from USC with a degree in engineering. He spent most of his career working for the L.A. County Sanitation Districts, retiring as Deputy Chief Engineer at age 57, so that he could spend more time sailing and traveling.
For well over 50 years, Frank was an active member of the sailing community in southern California, and his contributions to the sport were far reaching. After buying a 24-foot wooden sailboat in 1954 with a group of friends who originally planned to buy a powerboat, Frank learned to sail. By 1957 he was enthusiastically racing and cruising and participating actively in the Buccaneer Yacht Club.
Frank and Ruth and their seven children spent many days together on the water.
As the family grew, so did the boats: 24, 32, 35, 40 feet. Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club was a second home to them, and they spent countless weekends at Catalina Island or racing in local races, and summers cruising to Santa Cruz and other islands, and to Baja.
Frank was instrumental in devising a revolutionary new handicapping system for racing, and brought many other innovative ideas to fruition. He created new races and organized cruises and worked tirelessly to promote the sport. For him, it was always about the joy of sailing, and being part of a community that shared his passion.
Frank and Ruth have now both crossed the bar to a calm harbor after navigating the seas of life together for six decades.
They leave behind six children: Kathy Smith (Paul) in Israel, Lori Dair (Rob MacCoun) in El Cerrito, Steve Dair and Kenny Dair (Amy) in San Pedro, Linda Gray (Cliff) in Helendale, Bryan Dair (Angela Goodwin) in Long Beach. They were preceded in death by their son David. The have fourteen grandchildren: Timna, Idit, Yosef, and Noam Smith; Madeline and Audrey MacCoun; Cheryl, Greg, Jackie, and Frank Dair; Ryan and Ashley Gray; Katrina and Jenna Dair; and a great grandson, Maayan Gavish. Frank is also survived by his brother Donald Dair in Virginia.
A celebration of their lives will be held at Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club on Sunday, June 23. For details, please contact loridair@gmail, or call Kenny Dair at 424-224-7763.
Funeral Home:
Green Hills Mortuary and Memorial Chapel
27501 S.Western Ave.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
US 90275
A life-long resident of Los Angeles County, Frank was born on January 4, 1928 in Bell and raised in Glendale. After serving in the Navy, he attended college on the G.I. bill and graduated from USC with a degree in engineering. He spent most of his career working for the L.A. County Sanitation Districts, retiring as Deputy Chief Engineer at age 57, so that he could spend more time sailing and traveling.
For well over 50 years, Frank was an active member of the sailing community in southern California, and his contributions to the sport were far reaching. After buying a 24-foot wooden sailboat in 1954 with a group of friends who originally planned to buy a powerboat, Frank learned to sail. By 1957 he was enthusiastically racing and cruising and participating actively in the Buccaneer Yacht Club.
Frank and Ruth and their seven children spent many days together on the water.
As the family grew, so did the boats: 24, 32, 35, 40 feet. Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club was a second home to them, and they spent countless weekends at Catalina Island or racing in local races, and summers cruising to Santa Cruz and other islands, and to Baja.
Frank was instrumental in devising a revolutionary new handicapping system for racing, and brought many other innovative ideas to fruition. He created new races and organized cruises and worked tirelessly to promote the sport. For him, it was always about the joy of sailing, and being part of a community that shared his passion.
Frank and Ruth have now both crossed the bar to a calm harbor after navigating the seas of life together for six decades.
They leave behind six children: Kathy Smith (Paul) in Israel, Lori Dair (Rob MacCoun) in El Cerrito, Steve Dair and Kenny Dair (Amy) in San Pedro, Linda Gray (Cliff) in Helendale, Bryan Dair (Angela Goodwin) in Long Beach. They were preceded in death by their son David. The have fourteen grandchildren: Timna, Idit, Yosef, and Noam Smith; Madeline and Audrey MacCoun; Cheryl, Greg, Jackie, and Frank Dair; Ryan and Ashley Gray; Katrina and Jenna Dair; and a great grandson, Maayan Gavish. Frank is also survived by his brother Donald Dair in Virginia.
A celebration of their lives will be held at Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club on Sunday, June 23. For details, please contact loridair@gmail, or call Kenny Dair at 424-224-7763.
Funeral Home:
Green Hills Mortuary and Memorial Chapel
27501 S.Western Ave.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
US 90275
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