LBKNews Special Report
news@lbknews.com
Longboater Randy Clair was known as the man who did the homework.
When he sat on the dais at Longboat Key Town Hall, flanked by microphones and stacks of agenda packets, he wasn’t just a commissioner; he was a maritime lawyer with a sharp eye for detail and a Merchant Mariner’s internal compass for navigating stormy waters. Whether he was dissecting a pension plan or challenging a zoning variance, Randy brought a level of rigorous stewardship that helped shape the modern financial and physical landscape of the island he loved.
Randall T. “Randy” Clair, a two-time town commissioner and devoted community servant, passed away on January 17, 2026, at the age of 86.
A Lawyer’s Mind, A Mariner’s Heart
Born in Chicago in 1939, Randy’s life was defined by the water long before he retired to the Gulf Coast. A 1961 honors graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, he spent his early years mastering the discipline of the sea. He later earned his law degree from Northwestern University, embarking on a distinguished career with Amoco’s International Law Department.
As a specialist in maritime law, Randy traveled the globe—from the Far East to the Caribbean—negotiating complex agreements that required both diplomatic tact and legal steel. It was a career that prepared him perfectly for his second act: retirement on Longboat Key.
Randy and his wife, Jean, settled on the Key in 1996, drawn by the same sparkling waters that had defined his career. But retirement for Randy did not mean sitting still. He felt a duty to protect his new home, eventually stepping into the public arena.
He served two distinct terms on the Town Commission, first as a Commissioner-at-Large from 2005 to 2009, and later representing District 1 (the southern end of the Key) from 2017 to 2020. His colleagues remember him as the “adult in the room”—a policymaker who refused to rubber-stamp decisions.
His impact was tangible. During his first term, Randy was instrumental in reforming the town’s pension system. It was a difficult, often unpopular battle to reduce unfunded liabilities, but he argued passionately that fiscal responsibility was the only way to ensure the town’s long-term survival.
He was equally vigilant about the island’s character. A resident of Country Club Shores, he became a fierce guardian of the town’s zoning codes, famously challenging construction projects that tried to skirt height restrictions. He believed that rules existed for a reason: to preserve the unique, low-profile charm of Longboat Key.
“He insisted on dotting every ‘I’ and crossing every ‘T,’” a colleague once noted. If a decision was made, Randy ensured it was made correctly, legally, and transparently.
Service Beyond the Dais
Randy’s commitment to service extended well beyond Town Hall. He served as Secretary for the Country Club Shores Unit 4 Homeowners Association and brought his financial acumen to the Finance Committee at St. Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic Church.
Perhaps most close to his heart was his role on Congressman Vern Buchanan’s Service Academy Advisory Panel. For years, the former Merchant Mariner helped interview and select the next generation of cadets for the U.S. Service Academies, seeing a reflection of his own youthful discipline in the eyes of local high school students.
A Family Legacy
Despite his public battles and professional accolades, Randy was a family man first. He is survived by Jean, his beloved wife of 61 years who was his constant partner in life and on the golf course. He leaves behind three daughters—Kathy, Margaret, and Pamela—and four grandchildren who knew him not as the stern lawyer, but as the grandfather who loved boating and cherished their time together.
The community is invited to honor Randy’s life and service. A Celebration of Life will be held at St. Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic Church (4280 Gulf of Mexico Drive) on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Mary, Star of the Sea or the Tidewell Foundation, in gratitude for the compassionate care provided to Randy in his final days.
The Town of Longboat Key has lowered its flags in honor of a man who served his country, his company, and his community with unwavering integrity.
