RICHARD F. CLARK, age 71. Founding President of Saint Martin de Porres High School and founding Director of Partnership Schools Cleveland. Beloved husband of 39 years to Moira (nee Hickey); father of Will (Brittany), Kevin, Bridey and the late Colin; "Pops" of Connor; brother of Maureen Delgado and Bill; uncle and friend of many.
Rich was born in Boston and grew up in Chicago. He attended Georgetown University and graduated with a B.A. in Theology. He received a master's degree in Religious Education from Loyola University of Chicago.
After teaching scripture and ethics for 18 years at his high school alma mater, Loyola Academy, Rich was named the first lay principal of St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland. In 2003 he left that role to help found the fourth Cristo Rey high school in the country, Saint Martin DePorres.
In 2020 he helped bring Partnership Schools (a Catholic grade school management organization) to the Cleveland Diocese as the first replication of one of the most successful networks of Catholic grade schools in the country. Partnership Schools in Cleveland now include Archbishop Lyke, St. Thomas Aquinas, Metro Catholic, and St. Francis.
After so many years in high school education, he took great joy in the younger students the Partnership serves, especially the kindergartners and first graders whose classrooms surrounded his office and who often stopped by to share their questions and their wisdom.
Rich was a man of deep faith, dauntless hope, and inspired love. He will be remembered, and missed, by many.
Passed away September 20, 2022. Funeral Mass Monday, September 26, St. Vitus Church (6019 Lausche Ave.) at 11:00 AM. (MEET AT CHURCH). Friends may call at SAINT MARTIN de PORRES HIGH SCHOOL, RICHARD F. CLARK COMMONS, (6202 St. Clair Ave.) SUNDAY 1-6 PM. (ENTER THROUGH THE ST. CLAIR MAIN ENTRANCE.)
PLEASE NO FLOWERS, the family requests contributions to Saint Martin de Porres High School, 6202 St. Clair Ave. Cleveland, OH 44103 or to Partnership Schools Cleveland, 1011 First Ave. Suite 1800, New York, NY 10022.
The Funeral Mass will be livestreamed at https://youtu.be/GjzYK5ss8K4
Richard Clark Funeral Mass booklet
Parking will be available at the following locations.
- Saint Martin de Porres parking lots on Lausche and Northwood
- St. Vitus Church
- Sheliga Drug Store lot (west side only)
- Slovenian National Home
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