Clair Leroy Bollinger

Clair Leroy Bollinger, 91, of York, PA transitioned Sunday, November 23rd. Born December 29th, 1922, he was the son of the late Jesse Calvin Bollinger and Cora Eleanor Shultz Bollinger of East Berlin, PA.
Clair graduated from West York Area High School as a state championship wrestler. He proudly served during WWII in the US Navy as a wrestler and as a shipman. He participated during the Normandy invasion and as a student of business and communication at the University of Wisconsin and UCLA.
He enjoyed a lifetime of serving his community as a chief of police in Spring Grove, PA, a clerk to the district attorney in York, PA, president of the Chamber of Commerce and assistant to the director of recreation, both of York. Clair managed many state and world championship slow pitch softball teams for men and women (Vigilant AA, York Barbell A and B, York Barbellettes and the 615 Club. He also served as an umpire in chief of the USSSA softball league and as a coach and referee of elementary and high school wrestling.
Mr. Bollinger owned and operated collection agencies in York, and sporting goods stores (B and B Sports, CB Sales) in York, Middletown, and Mercersburg PA. He served in retail and wholesale distribution of sporting equipment to high school and colleges across the US for several companies throughout his career, most notoriously for Cutter Gloves of Phoenix, Arizona. With the company, he assisted in the marketing and promotion of football gloves for the NFL.
Clair was a member of the American Legion, the Viking Club, and the FOP of York. He was an avid enthusiast of the US Navy, New York Yankees, and the New England Patriots.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Emma Angeline (Warner) Bollinger and a daughter Dianne Chari Bollinger. He is survived by his daughter Deborah Jolene Bollinger.
A service will be held in Christ Roth Church and Cemetery, Thomasville, PA.