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 For
Claude Giguere of Royal Highlands, retirement didn’t mean that he had to
stop using his engineering skills. He simply refocused his training and
experience to help the physically challenged enjoy a very popular sport.
Claude was born in Montreal, and his wife, Sharon, was born in
Centerline, Michigan, located near Detroit. They lived in Sterling
Heights, MI for many years before coming to Florida. Claude spent 4
years in the U.S. Air Force, working with computers and radar for NORAD,
and then became employed by General Motors in the Fisher Body Division
for 27 years. He was involved in the planning and construction of their
assembly facilities. After retiring from GM, he served as a volunteer at
the Plumbrook Elementary School for 7 years.
Sharon was employed as an elementary school teacher at the Utica
Community School for 29 years. She worked with first grade students for
19 years, then taught fourth grade students for the next 10 years.
They have one daughter who is supervisor in the personnel department at
Pepperdine University in California.
Claude’s interest in helping physically challenged people began while he
was working as a volunteer in the local courthouse. He befriended Bill
Miller, a quadriplegic who had enjoyed bowling before his accident, and
it was then that Claude decided to do something about it. He spent six
months developing a device that allows anyone confined to a wheel-chair,
even high-level quadriplegics and paraplegics, to bowl. The IKAN Bowler
(from the Greek word “ikano” which means “enable”) attaches to the front
of a wheelchair, and the bowler controls the speed, direction, position
and timing of the ball’s release. “If you can move your chair, I can
help you bowl.”, said Claude.
 Just
this past March, the device was approved at the American Bowling
Congress Convention for use in a sanctioned bowling league, and a
website has become available where IKAN bowlers can connect online to
share scores, experiences and friendships. The Gigueres are thrilled to
see the joy that they have brought to those who would otherwise not be
able to participate.
Claude and Sharon spend most of their “free time” developing the product
(Claude is President/CEO and Sharon is VP). Along with two other
partners, they are fully involved with the company.
Because they have temporarily put retirement on hold, the Gigueres are
not as involved in as many community activities as they might normally
be. But they are enjoying their new home. Claude and Sharon chose to
build their Duchess model home in Royal Highlands after looking at many
other communities. Several of Sharon’s relatives live nearby, and Claude
found that their home had the lowest cost per square foot and best value
for the area. They wanted to be away from the busy coastlines, and they
enjoy the more temperate climate that Central Florida offers. After
seven years, they are happy with the great location of their home, the
openness of the living areas that make their model so popular, and their
friendly neighbors.
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