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Georgetown University New York University

CLINTON FREEMAN Obituary

FREEMAN--Clinton Spencer. Died May 30, 2010, age 47, of heart failure, suddenly, at his mother's home in Philadelphia. Son of Kay Olson Freeman and the late Stewart A. Freeman. Brother of Tanner M. Freeman. Valedictorian graduate The Browning School, 1981. Attended Georgetown University and graduated NYU 1986. Many saw his New York City Public Access TV shows, "Four Horsemen," "Love Cats," "Weather Report," 1981-2007. Loved walking Madison Ave, SoHo and Easthampton Beach. Happy and optimistic Sagittarius. Could converse with anyone in an amiable and original way. Knew everything about contemporary music, art and fashion, about which he wrote cogently. Welcomed at Don Hill's, Misshapes, Pacha and other clubs, where ever Derrick Carter appeared. Interests included playing tennis, New York Yankees and New York Giants, pro wrestling, Andy Kaufman and Andy Warhol. Committed tea-drinker and vegetarian. Very responsible, good-natured and polite, as Morrissey sings "used to be a sweet boy."

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Published by New York Times on Jun. 11, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for CLINTON FREEMAN

Sponsored by Kay Olson Freeman, mother.

28 Entries

EDK

September 18, 2024

I was a number of years behind him at Browning, but ran into him occasionally on the Upper East Side. He was always a delight to talk to and just a genuinely sweet human.

BSF

June 5, 2023

Clinton - I still remember our fun times out on the town and discussions of pop culture. A lot of laughs. You made a contribution for sure.

R.F.

June 5, 2020

Clinton - in addition to all your other great qualities, you were also a great artist. Your photographs were always meaningful. I still treasure them. You loved the paparazzi style and so do I.

Randy F

June 6, 2019

Always remembering you Clinton Spencer! You were a funny smart guy and we had a lot of good times together. Glad we were friends. Respect to you and your family.

Gregory Galligan

June 5, 2019

Remembering your great kindness, joy, and generosity always, Clinton. Rest peacefully.

Gregory Galligan

November 15, 2014

Somehow, Clinton, I think we're all the sum of our experiences in life, and you continue to accompany us through ours. Wishing you all the best as I head back to New York and enjoy a few weeks treading common ground again. Thank you for your gracious friendship. Warm regards always.

Benjamin F.

November 13, 2014

Still thinking of you Clinton Spencer. You were a funny, friendly guy and you loved music and newspapers. We had a lot of great conversations and I will always miss them.

September 11, 2014

Dear friend, I still miss you and think of you. Perhaps one day our spirits can meet again one day over sheep meadow for a joyous song, as in the old days.

Sean Haugh

November 30, 2013

I watched the Love Cats when I was living up that way and still think it is the greatest TV show ever. Remembered it again tonight and found this. The Clint Star added so much joy to my life and I will be forever grateful.

Lakshman Joseph de Saram

October 11, 2012

If any one of Clint's friends know of his good buddy Logan Evans' whereabouts, please get in touch with me. Thanks much.

Randy Fr.

October 10, 2012

I remember one late night seeing Clinton's TV show "The LoveCats" on Manhattan Cable TV. I called the number on the screen and we talked about music. A few weeks later on the streets of New York I saw Clinton singing, accompanied by a friend playing guitar. We bonded over our shared love of pop music, especially the Beach Boys, The Smiths, Bacharach & David, Oasis, Lloyd Cole, The Lemonheads, and many more. Clinton had great taste. He loved the night life and knew most of the doormen at the clubs we went to, like The Tunnel and Don Hill's. He invited me onto his cable show a few times. We did a special show on The Beach Boys in the Sheep Meadow in Central Park. I loved his sense of humor and he loved mine. Clinton introduced me to some of his great friends. More than two years after he's gone, I still miss him a lot.

lakshman joseph de saram

July 14, 2012

clint, a big part of my NYC experience, sad to see most of it vanishing.

Nicole Garrison

June 12, 2012

Clinton was a huge contributor to my fanzine "Morri'Zine. I am heartbroken to hear of his passing. ~ Nicole

Gregory Galligan

October 20, 2010

To Clinton "Spenne's" Family and Friends:

I am very saddened to learn of Clinton's passing, indeed news I came across only recently through Facebook. I had heard a song one day in Bangkok that Clinton once mentioned admiring ("Close to You") when he learned I had grown up as a teenager, a concert pianist, a hopeless fan of the Carpenters. This led me to look at his Facebook page last night...

Knowing of Clinton's love for indy music of much more sophisticated stripe, I hardly expected him to react warmly to my teen love of the Carpenters, but I remember how he smiled with his big, characteristic grin, and without missing a beat, added---lowering his chin and uttering in that smooth radio voice---"Oh yes, it's one of the great ones..." Then he quietly sang it, as though to himself with tender care, "Why do birds, suddently appear..."

I met Clinton quite by accident some fifteen or so years ago, when he was an art gallery manager at Michelle Rosenfeld on East 79th Street in the mid 1990s, where I was hired as an occasional or part-time assistant. We quickly became friendly colleagues, even though we led very different lives, he working at the gallery and keeping up with New York nightlife, I finishing a doctoral dissertation and going home at night to steam my broccoli! But soon I would receive e-mail telling me of all the important shows I must be sure to catch, or asking my advice on whether I thought a particular exhibition was worth seeing...It was a joy to reconnect some years later through Facebook, and I was startled to hear he had trouble with his heart at one point in Philly. I found comfort in knowing he had finally found a doctor he felt was really restoring his stamina. So dear Clinton, I will never forget you, and I will always be grateful for your kind friendship and for sharing your indefatiguable love of life with me so generously. Warm regards to your family and many friends..."Dr. G."

Clinton took the photo last year

J.J. Barkas

August 26, 2010

Douglas Brophy

August 23, 2010

Dear Kay and Tanner,
Clinton and I lost touch soon after I left Browning in 1976, but I thought of him often. He always seemed to be one step ahead of us: that Saturday-afternoon wrestling party he hosted in fourth grade...being the first to go to a rock concert (I fondly recall his sixth-grade essay on seeing Elton John at MSG---Thanksgiving, 1974!)...or connecting with and sharing some other event in the zeitgeist. I was saddened to hear of Clinton's passing, yet am pleased to know that his passion continued to burn brightly, touching the lives of many. I am very grateful to have known him.

Richard Flensted-Holder

August 18, 2010

I made a donation to the House of Compassion in Toronto to honor your life and memory.
Richard Flensted-Holder

Richard Flensted-Holder

August 17, 2010

Today, your mother and I visited the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Thought a lot about you while looking at contemporary art and would have enjoyed your company and comments. Richard Flensted-Holder

Liz Finkle Sans

July 27, 2010

I will always cherish those wonderful summers in WHB. Especially picking you up from the train station, because you hated my driving! Rest in peace old friend. I will never forget you? xoxo

Diana Balton

June 29, 2010

Spencer was an incredibly smart and unique individual-not to mention a great conversationalist. We first met in 1990 when, upon watching his TV show LOVECATS on public access for the first time in my new apartment, I called the number on the screen, as it instructed. We chatted briefly about The Style Council. Later that month, we bumped into each other on park avenue and for some reason, we sang old beatle songs together...and became fast friends. I will never forget the funny questionaires he used to post up and down madison avenue. Spencer had a lifelong passion for art and an enormous amount of creative energy. He diligently kept several collage diaries, wrote poetry, hosted his own television shows, designed graphics (which we collaborated on) and made artwork. A true New York eccentric, Spencer was also a clotheshorse and always smartly dressed. The last time I saw Spencer was at my apartment in early spring, he told me very matter of factly that he wanted to die while at the same time clutching several shopping bags from some very swank madison avenue stores! I remember being both angry with his pronouncement and amused at the sight of his recent clothing spree. He was chatting excitedly about a design competition he wanted to enter. Spencer was a generous, loyal and loving friend. I will dearly miss his laugh, his rapid fire speech and the hours we spent having conversations about the cosmos, rock and roll bands, art, and everything else under the sun.

Video Clint as many of us remember him. From the 1990s

P.B. Shalamar

June 29, 2010

I can't believe you're gone, seems so unreal. Our unusual dialogue via MNN, dating back to`89 or`90 is now over. I feel a significant loss over this for you were a uniquely talented person who made his mark on the New York cultural landscape.

Derrick Carter

June 16, 2010

I'll be at Sullivan Rooms in August and will play something special just for you. I hope that you will hear and enjoy it but to be truthful, it won't be the same without you there.

J.J. Barkas

June 12, 2010

You know that I will never forget you. It is difficult to not have you in my life - after all, we spoke/were in touch every single week for 19 years.