Claude Eric Guyot

Cumberland - Claude Eric Guyot, 68, of Range Road in Cumberland, passed peacefully on Tuesday, November 7, 2017, surrounded by his loving family. Claude was born on November 30, 1948, in Couvet, Switzerland, to the late Marcel and Suzanne (Duvanel) Guyot. He graduated high school in Switzerland in 1964 and Watchmakers College in 1967. After college he served two years in the Swiss Armed Forces. Afterwards, Claude worked briefly as a watchmaker in Switzerland before coming to the United States to work and teach at the Waltham Watch Factory in Bridgeport, CT. It was there that he met the love of his life, Jill Benedict. In 1972, Claude and Jill moved to Maine, where he worked at Carter Brothers Jewelers on Congress Street. On July 12, 1975, Claude and Jill were married in North Yarmouth, Maine. Together they made their home and raised their family in Cumberland. In 1977, Claude and Jill opened Swiss Time on High Street in Portland, which operated there until 1994 when they moved to their current location on Exchange Street in Portland. When not working at the store, Claude enjoyed spending time with his family, traveling, skiing, hockey, fishing, playing the guitar, and beekeeping. He loved to build things, including renovating two homes, knowing there was nothing he couldn't fix. He restored a 1969 MGB which Jill bought him for his 60th birthday. His greatest talent and passion was passing his knowledge on to his children and by his actions he ensured that his ethics and honesty were instilled in them. His greatest accomplishments in life were running a successful business for 40 years and raising his two children. His love of family always came first, which was never more evident than with the arrival of his first grandchild, Hunter, who stole his heart. With his great sense of humor, Claude loved cracking jokes, always with a twinkle in his eye as he thought of his next joke. His strength and determination were exemplified by coming to the US when he was 21, not knowing more than a few English words. His relentless ability to endure as a fighter was evident as he battled Parkinson's disease for more than 15 years and ALS for more than a year. Claude's final gift was the donation of his body for research towards a cure for ALS and Parkinson's disease. Claude was predeceased by a sister, Lucien Dubach and two brothers, Michel and Rene Guyot. He is survived by his wife of forty two years, Jill Guyot of Cumberland; his son, Kristopher and wife Meredith Guyot of Falmouth; his daughter Stephany and partner Michael Ramsay of Cumberland; his first grandchild, Hunter Claude Ramsay of Cumberland; a bonus son Edward and wife Julie Bennett and their children Katherine, Jessica, and Abby of Scarborough; two sisters, Joselyn Rossetti and Jacqueline Langenstein of Switzerland; two brothers, Francis and wife Leila Guyot of Switzerland, Freddy and wife Gaby Guyot of Switzerland; sister in law, Anne-Lise Guyot of Switzerland; and many nieces and nephews. Visitation and celebration of Claude's life will be held on the 69th anniversary of his birth, Thursday, November 30, 2017 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at the Conroy-Tully Walker South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway, South Portland. To view Claude's memorial page, or to share an online condolence, please visit www.ConroyTullyWalker.com. Contributions may be made in Claude's memory to either the Hope-JG Foundation of North America, PO Box 1805, Windham, ME 04062 (https://www.hope-jg.org/copy-of-donate) or MGH ALS Research Fund care of Krista McCabe, Massachusetts General Hospital, Development Office-Suite 540, 125 Nashua Street, Boston, MA 02114-1101 (https://give.massgeneral.org/als).