Claire Eileen Vitale

January 20, 1936 - January 15, 2022.

Claire was the second daughter (after sister Ann, two years older) born to parents William and Ruth (Aylward) Farrell in Cambridge, MA. She grew up in a happy Irish family, surrounded by aunts, uncles, and cousins.

As a child of the Depression, Claire learned to be frugal and resourceful, two traits that would hold her in good stead for all her life.

In her teens, Claire began to accompany Ann to the roller rink most days after school.

As her commitment to and talent for skating grew, Claire kept up her grades while finding time to earn money for skates and transportation to the rink in order to perfect her craft. After graduating high school, she enrolled in the Katharine Gibbs School, where she earned top grades in every subject.

Claire really began to excel at the skating rink, and with the spark lit, she moved from Boston to New York to pursue her passion full time. She found a job to support herself, a skating partner, and an apartment with roommates who would become lifelong friends. After winning three (three!) national titles (two in Cleveland, which she declared her favorite city as a result), Claire and her partner would go on to win the World Championship in roller dance in Christchurch, New Zealand in January 1959.

Between 1962 and 1969, Claire had three sons: Robert, Lawrence, and Steven.

After raising her growing family in Queens, Westchester and Philadelphia’s Main Line, Mom would settle in New York’s upper east side, where she lived for 33 years. Mom worked as a real estate broker and as an executive assistant; in the latter role, she developed the best, most professional phone manner than any of us has seen before or since. Mom loved her life in New York, and she was often seen in and around Lincoln Center and various other theatres both on- and off-Broadway. Mom particularly loved the ballet, and was expert at scoring great seats at a bargain price. When she wasn't adding to her incredibly fashionable wardrobe, she loved to linger over a fine meal at a three-star restaurant. She maintained a large group of friends with whom she loved to explore both the neighborhoods of New York and the great cities of the world: London, Paris, Dublin, Rome, Melbourne, Seoul, Mustique. She was also a better cook than she ever let on, and was renowned for her legendary Irish Spaghetti. Mom’s daily rhythm was punctuated at five o’clock with a proper gin martini (never, ever vodka: that’s a different drink, and decidedly NOT a martini), up, very dry, with a single onion. Oh, and not too floral please, and nothing that tastes of licorice. We'll never forget her grace, elegance, or her dazzling smile. Her family doted on her, and she loved them all fiercely in return.

We will miss you terribly Mom. Rest well.

Claire is survived by her sons: Larry (Amanda), Bobby (Mary), and Steven (Alexandra); nine grandchildren (David, Danny, Jake; Alicia, Peter, Tyler; Eleni, Alexia, Artemis); and her sister Ann.

We will be receiving friends of Claire at Frank E. Campbell Funeral Home, 1076 Madison Avenue, on Wednesday, January 19, from 4-7pm.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to either St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, or Regis High School. Claire was an enthusiastic supporter of both organizations.