Harry Sinclair, 72, Co-Founder of Family Paint Company, Dies

Harry Sinclair, who with his brothers and sister founded Sinclair Paint Co. shortly after he graduated from high school, has died of complications of a brain tumor. Sinclair was 72 and died Tuesday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Sinclair had come to Los Angeles with his family from Massachusetts in 1930. Two years later, he graduated from Manual Arts High School and three years after that helped establish the family’s first store at Olympic Boulevard and Main Street in downtown Los Angeles.

The company grew into the largest regional paint firm on the West Coast, said Sinclair’s son, Keith, and remains a major manufacturing concern with 41 stores.

The firm was taken over by Chicago-based Insilco Corp. in 1971, but Harry Sinclair remained as president of Sinclair Wall Coverings until his retirement in 1981.

In addition to his son, Sinclair is survived by his wife, Gerry; a daughter, Lani Riches; brothers Al, Frank, Sydney and Max, and his sister, Ann Robbins.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Harry Sinclair Campership Fund, care of Wilshire Boulevard Temple of Los Angeles.