Claude Marie Faure

A lifetime of love and loyalty 

Claude Marie Faure, 86 years old, full of stories, and never without a good bottle of wine nearby, passed away peacefully in his home in Melbourne, FL, on July 25, 2026. He was born on October 19, 1939, in Poitiers, France, the son of a French Colonel. 

Being a Colonel's son, Claude did his time in the French military, as was expected, and even crossed the Atlantic to serve briefly as a French attaché in the U.S. and taught a three-day course at West Point. He loved to say, "I am not a spy," always with a wry smile, and always leaving you wondering just a little. 

Before Claude settled down, his next interesting work chapter took him to Saudi Arabia and Brazil, with New York City as his home base. Those were his boat years, and he spent his weekends out on the water with fellow New Yorkers, having the time of his life. 

Then in 1980, everything got even better: he met Sylvia Rae (Maker). They were married for 45 years, first building a life in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts for 25 years, and then in Melbourne, FL for his final 20. Once he had a family, Claude poured himself into it: Sylvia, their kids Joel and Julia, the Maker family's Shrewsbury Animal Hospital, and the whole sprawling, beloved family on both sides of the ocean, and a host of pets. 

Claude never did one thing for very long, and he loved it that way. Over the years he was a marketer, a manager, a salesman, a restaurateur, and a home flipper who couldn't resist taking on a wreck of a house and making it whole again. He ran the Tantalus restaurant in New York City, managed and later owned the Shrewsbury Animal Hospital, and after the move to Melbourne kept busy with Circuit City, then Southern Photo, before finally opening his own shop, Melbourne Cameras, then flipping some Melbourne houses to whole homes. 

Cooking was how Claude said "I love you." A true Frenchman to the core, he found as much joy in a good meal as in good company, and never turned down a good drink either. His motto, often repeated: "I never drink water, it makes me rusty." He even made it into Show Business magazine once, where he was quoted as saying, "Elegance is simplicity... There are four things in life that should be done peacefully: sleeping, love-making, drinking wine and eating." 

Claude is survived by his wife, Sylvia Rae (Maker) Faure, and by the family he loved being papa to: his son Joel Maker Faure, Joel's wife Marianna Faure, her mother Vaso Hoberg, her children Nik and Phillip Heuermann, Nik's love Debra Stevens, and his daughter, his "choupinette," Julia Cecile Faure and her love Adam Sheriff. 

He also leaves in this world his brother Michel Faure and wife Mathilde, of Sanary-sur-Mer; his sister Marie Joelle Gremaud, of Arcachon; his younger sister Catherine Faure and her love Jean-Luc Blaze, also of Sanary-sur-Mer; his brother-in-law Tom Maker and his love Nancy Caisse, of Bolton, MA; and a wide, warm circle of cousins, their widows, nieces, and nephews across France and the US. 

He was preceded in death by his infant daughter, Sylvia Marie Faure; his brother, Jean Faure, of Las Vegas; his father, Colonel E.M. Jean-Claude Faure; and his loving mother, Cecile (Johner) Faure, who delighted in young Claude's lily-of-the-valley bouquets. 

The family invites everyone who knew and loved Claude to a Celebration of Life at their home (contact family or friend for address) on Saturday, August 22nd, from noon to 3:00 PM; come sit on the porch with us and enjoy good food and drink in his honor, just the way he'd have wanted. Claude's ashes will be joyfully and lovingly given to the sea. 

The family is deeply grateful to Health First Hospice for their compassionate care. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Claude's memory to Harmony Farms ( www.harmonyfarmsinc.com ), Moffitt Cancer Center ( www.moffitt.org/donate ), whose care saved a family member, or Green Gables at Historic Riverview Village ( www.greengables.org ). 

While Claude often referred to himself as "Saint Claude," he certainly was not, but he will be deeply missed, and he'll bring a knowing twinkle and a smile to everyone who loved him. 

Condolences and memories for the family may be made online at davisseawinds.com.