The Rev. Clair F. Gannon, O.S.B., 89, died Saturday, June 23, 2001, after a long illness.
Father Clair was born December 26, 1911, in Pittsburgh, a son of the late James and Margaret (Bell) Gannon, and was one of seven children.
He attended Schenley High School, Pittsburgh, and received a bachelor of arts degree from Saint Vincent College in 1941, making simple profession of vows on August 1, 1935, and solemn profession of vows on August 1, 1938.
He was ordained a priest on June 15, 1941. Father Clair worked in the archabbey’s pastoral apostolates from 1941 to 1950 in Erie, and Covington, Kentucky. In 1950, he returned to the monastery. There he held numerous positions at Saint Vincent College and Archabbey over the next several years, including dean of men, director of the book store and post office, alumni secretary, archabbey public relations director, and director of lay retreats. He also served as chaplain of the Saint Vincent Preparatory School and as archabbey guest master.
From 1955 to 1959 he was spiritual guidance director of Saint Benedict Academy in Erie. He returned to the pastoral apostolate in 1964, serving at parishes in the dioceses of Erie and Altoona-Johnstown.
His final assignment was as parochial vicar and chaplain to the senior citizens of the Saint Vincent Basilica Parish.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by four brothers, George, James, John and Henry, and by two sisters, Sister Mary Ida, S.C., and Anna Gannon.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Tuesday, June 26, in Saint Vincent Archabbey Basilica.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Benedictine Health and Welfare Fund at Saint Vincent Archabbey, 300 Fraser Purchase Road, Latrobe, PA 15650-2690.