Patrick Joseph Clark

Patrick Joseph Clark

Tilton, NH - Patrick Joseph Clark: father, husband, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend to all who were fortunate enough to know him, passed away peacefully on January 10 at Concord Hospital in Concord, NH after complications from multiple strokes. Pat was born on September 26, 1949 in Anoka, Minnesota to a large, loving, boisterous Irish family. He lost his father, Don Clark, at the age of five and was raised by his mother, Catherine (Katie) Clark, and mentored by his maternal uncle Buster Talbot throughout much of his life. These steadfast figures along with countless other family members provided Pat with unending love and instilled the principles of family, hard work, honesty, humor, community, and civic duty. These principals were guiding forces throughout Pat's life. His early life was filled with colorful memories with his six siblings, numerous cousins, and a rowdy bunch of childhood friends, many of whom Pat stayed in touch with over the years. Pat had a few favorite stories from that era that included riding two family horses, Rock and Roll, bareback and much too fast, many hours in a tree fort spent in equal parts battle and laughter with his siblings, forming friendships in the community as a paperboy, and serving as a sometimes mischievous alter boy. After graduating from Anoka High School in 1967 Pat joined the US Army and deployed to Panama. He returned to pursue a degree in Counseling at University of MN, and went on to earn his masters from Antioch University. During his time in MN he met a formative figure in his life, Wells Hively, who he studied under and who guided him into a job at the Spaulding Youth Center (now Spaulding Academy & Family Services) in Northfield, NH. Pat's years at Spaulding proved transformative. He met a slew of young people who formed a tight knit friend group lasting over 50 years. These friends have buoyed each other over the years- helping to build each other's houses, navigating parenthood, and bailing each other out, literally and figuratively, countless times. It was also during this time that Pat met his wife, Susan (Sukie), "the best thing that ever happened to me", as he was known to say. They married in 1976 and settled in Tilton, NH. As modern day homesteaders, they built their house as money allowed, which was painstakingly slow. They spent the first winter living in the newly poured basement with only the floor above them for shelter and a poorly vented wood stove for heat. Many thanks to Weeks Dairy Bar for unknowingly providing showers during that time. Their experience that winter galvanized their dedication to each other and their ability to conquer goals as a team. In the years to follow they welcomed their three children Ben, Will, and Molly and he and Sukie committed to providing a beautifully feral childhood full of mucking around in the pond, bonfires, sledding, skating, and no shortage of large scale chores. While he didn't always tell his children directly, he was endlessly proud and would spend plenty of time sharing it with anyone who would listen. Pat's degree in counseling helped him make the seemingly unlikely shift into sales. He worked for a local company before starting his own successful business, New England Network. For 40+ years he "pounded the pavement" all over New England serving as a manufacturers rep for tech companies. He loved his work and beyond the paycheck it brought home, he thoroughly enjoyed getting to know all of the people he worked with. Pat's commitment to community was unmatched and he was known to serve on multiple boards or projects at once. He served many years in the Rotary Club, as Tilton-Northfield Fire Commissioner and on the boards of the NH State Prison and Spaulding Academy. He was an active Legion member and loved being involved with the Winnisquam Ag Center. He once solicited unused bulletproof vests from area police and fire departments that he then shipped out to units in need in Camp Fallujah, Iraq. His hallmark achievement was spearheading the fundraising and construction of the Tilton Riverfront Park. It was during this project a state politician was coined saying "if I don't pick up Pat's calls, he'll just keep calling!" While he felt the most tangible change within local involvement, he was acutely aware of state and National politics and proudly hosted the first fundraiser for Jeanne Shaheen. His persistence and dedication to community was unwavering and he was called upon time and time again to move a project, campaign, or idea along. As evidenced, Pat Clark loved people and shaped his life to interact anytime he could. He was known to "swing by" friends houses unannounced, call family at all hours to catch up, track down, interrogate, and befriend experts in every field whenever he embarked on a new project, and flag down cars with Minnesota plates while driving on I-93 just so he could see if there was any link to Anoka. He discovered connections with folks no matter their walk of life and it was truly a gift. He is survived by his wife Sukie, sons Ben (Kelly) and Will (Lindsey), daughter Molly (Tom), grandchildren Lily, Hazel, Ruben, and Uma, and a large loving crew of extended family. May all who read this gather the spirit of Pat in their heart and continue his legacy. Rest easy, dear friend. There will be private a celebration of life at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please direct donations to Spaulding Academy and Family Services.