Paul L. Belair
Apr 06, 1933 – Feb 01, 2019
Paul Lionel Belair, 85, of Blue Ridge Shores, Louisa, passed away at home on Friday, February 1, 2019.
Paul was born April 6, 1933, in Northfield, New Hampshire. The first of his family to attend college, Paul graduated from the University of New Hampshire and later earned a master’s degree from American University. For thirty years, Paul taught history at Yorktown High School in Arlington, Virginia. Outside of school hours, he ran his own interior design firm, Belair Interiors, as a self-taught interior designer and contractor.
Upon retirement, he and his wife moved to Blue Ridge Shores, where Paul took great pride in renovating an A-frame cottage into their home, as well as doing design work and contracting for friends and neighbors. He served for two terms as Louisa County’s representative to the Region Ten Community Services Board and was instrumental in building Region Ten facilities in both Louisa and Nelson Counties. Those who knew him will not forget his sense of humor, his generosity, and his loving heart.
Paul was preceded in death by his parents, Victor and Ida Belair of Tilton of New Hampshire; and five of his six brothers and sisters.
Left to remember him with love, is his wife of 54 years, Mary Ann Belair; his daughters and their husbands, Anne Marie and Chuck Pace of Charlottesville and Margaret and David Leckrone of Earlysville; his seven grandchildren, Madeleine, Caroline, Robert, and Laura Pace, and Jeffrey, Thomas, and Kimberly Leckrone; and his beloved twin, sister Pauline Robichaud of Tilton, NH.
A Mass of Celebration will be be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, February 8 at St. Jude Catholic Church, Mineral. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church.
Memorial donations may be made to the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA, the Louisa County Resource Council, or the Louisa County Fire Department.
Mr Belair danced with me at a half-time show! I was on the Drill Team (graduated ‘79) and we each were to ask a teacher to dance to a 50’s song on the field. He was a favorite teacher and was happy to dance with me.
I enjoyed being on the Yorktown Student Council Association. Mr. Belair was our Sponsor. He was a great man and teacher;
I am so sorry. I have thought of Paul often as he redecorated my Quincy St home many years ago when we were both teachers at Yorktown. My sympathy to Mary Ann and daughters who he used to speak of often. Sad day. Love, Flo Rosse
I am so sorry to hear this news. I have thought of him many times over the years. He was my favorite teacher at Yorktown HS (’79). I enjoyed him so much for History that I took Sociology my Senior year. My thoughts and prayers will be with you and the girls, Mrs. Belair.
You knew not to make him mad !!! He would slam that door..and we would all just sit in attention. Great teacher. RIP
I had the pleasure of having Mr. Belair as my History and Sociology teacher at Yorktown, class of 1990. He also designed my childhood home’s renovation during that time. He is remembered fondly. My heart goes out to his family during this difficult time.
My condolences to his family and friends. He was an excellent teacher and part of the reason why I majored in History as a college undergraduate and have continued to read history ever since. Judi Mason Haller YHS 1964
My sincere condolences to Paul’s family. He and I shared a room one year at Yorktown High School. It was an interesting and exciting adventure….just don’t touch the widow blinds and never erase anything on the blackboard. It was fun!
Mr. Belair was a wonderful History teacher!! I had the pleasure of having him teach me my Junior year at Yorktown in 1989. He worked with me after my “supposedbly short one week trip to Portugal” turned into 2 additional weeks there with plenty of missed work. He was highly respected. May he Rest in Peace. My sincere condolences and prayers to his family. Ines Paixao Guyton (Class of 1990)
I am so sorry to hear the news of Mr. Belair’s passing. He was a great history teacher who truly enjoyed teaching. His enthusiasm inspired me to get my undergraduate degree in history. My thoughts are with his family during this sad time. Hope Melbourne (Class of 1974)
Class of 87 YHS remembering him with great fondness and reverence.
I remember him as a very fine history teacher and great influence on students at Yorktown H.S. I’m sorry to hear of his passing.
I worked with Paul at Yorktown, and he also taught my son Joe. Paul was a great teacher and had a great sense of humor. He was always one of my favorite teachers.
My favorite teach ever, still for many a password we still all manage! He called me the black witch! I was one of those red lipstick, a touch crazy, back of the class people. Came into class one day with a broomstick….he just laughed it off and continued on. Yorktown ‘71. I so wanted to reach out in the last few years. Just to let him know what a great teacher he was to me. Brushed it off and figured I’d do it eventually. Of course, now I regret that I didn’t! I so wish I could come to the service, but currently I’m in Florida. My thoughts, prayers and love is with all your family and friends! You will be missed! Sally Jones (now Austin).
I’ve thought about Mr. Belair many times over the years. He was one of my favorite teachers at Yorktown. May his family find comfort in many happy memories.
He was a great man, he taught me a lot and gave me confidence in myself to excel. He will always be remembered fondly.
Mr Belair was my favorite teacher at Yorktown. He made our history class fun and very interesting. The best thing he did for me was challenge me to think for myself in class and in life. He was a wonderful man and I know he will be missed.
I worked with Paul for many years on the Region Ten Community Service Board. He had amazing energy, dedication and empathy. Will miss you my friend.
I’m so saddened to hear about Mr. Belair’s passing. He was my most favorite teacher! He was stern and tough, but fair as the day is long. I got him an ice cream sundae, per his request while I was out for lunch! He was just a stitch as well. What a loss…..my thoughts and prayers are with your family. Godspeed Mr. Belair, you were one of the greats!! Warmest regards, Sandi Wallace YHS1986
A very special teacher. Class of 77
An exceptional talent at Yorktown and a good neighbor on Potomac Street, Paul added a lot to both school and community.
Saddened to read of Mr. Belair’s passing. His sense of humor was one of a kind. So glad I was lucky enough to meet him. He will be missed. Sending prayers & love to his family. My deepest condolences to you all.
So very sorry to hear of Mr. Belair’s passing. He was an instrumental wind filling my sails on my maiden voyage into teaching. We didn’t always see things eye to eye but as I have journeyed into many classrooms over the years I have carried close to me the simple yet very effective strategies Mr. Belair gave to me. One of my favorites: Have eye contact with your class while writing on the board. Seems easy enough but when you’re left handed it’s no easy chore! Thank you Mr. Belair. This really does matter for classroom discipline! May God grant you eternal rest and peace for you have been His faithful servant and watchful shepherd over so many of us.
Paul Belair was an institution at Yorktown. He seemed to be everywhere. A dynamo involved in all that was going on, in our brand new high school, to help get it up and running and accredited with flying colors in 1961. He was devoted to teaching history, but also being the faculty advisor for our Student Council meetings. He married my Government teacher, Miss Feldmeier, which I always thought so appropriate! History and Government always go together! They came to our class reunions and I remember as our first gathering was ending, a last special song came on. It was “Camelot” so symbolic about how we should “not let it be forgot that once there was a spot…” About how there was a time when we first classes were part of the creation (choosing the colors, naming the teams, etc.) of such a special school, and when we were also asked “what we could do for our country.” Paul Belair remembered that in my senior year, I had been so fortunate to be invited to the White House to meet President Kennedy, and he hurried over to ask me to dance to that most meaningful final song. By the time it ended, we were the only two people still dancing, and we both knew he had given me a very special gift to always remember. My deepest sympathy to all his family, colleagues, and friends. We who know of his contributions to Yorktown, and his very kind gestures, won’t let him “be forgot…”
Our families enjoyed many years vacationing in New Hampshire at Lake Manning. Also very special Christmas eves with Paul’s special Meat Pie. Many Happy Times. May you rest in Peace.
Paul will live on in the renovation he did in our house. He had quite a gift. God bless you.
Our deepest sympathy to Mary Ann and family.
Paul shared his inner self with me, which is the greatest gift a friend can give you. Knowing him altered who I was often over 40 years. With love and gratitude, Angela Hammond
We are so saddened to hear of Mr Belair’s passing. His kindness, generosity and laughter will forever grace our memories of him. Our Heartfelt condolences goes out to Mrs. Mary Ann Belair, family and loved ones.
Mr. Belair was one of the best teachers I ever had. He challenged us and set high standards that he made us want to meet. We always knew he cared about our learning and growing, while keeping us on our toes. I’m grateful to have been his student (Yorktown ‘75) and send my sincere condolences to his family.
The finest of men. He understood a floundering kid and led him to the truth about himself.Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon him.”
I just found out about Paul when I went to hottingers to look at flowers. I use to take him there to pick out flowers. He was a character and interesting fellow. Nice conversations while I was cleaning his house. He said he loved to hear his wife play the piano.