Jovita E. Clark

Jovita E. Clark Jovita Clark, 95, died peacefully at home Friday, August 26, 2011. She lived in phenomenal health until the end, having only been to the doctor a handful of times in her life, taking virtually no medication, driving until 94 and living independently until just a few months before her death. Born in 1915 in Red Lodge, Montana, she came to Long Beach for the first time with her mother and grandparents at the age of three. The family would take the three day steam locomotive trip from Montana through Salt Lake City to Los Angeles, ending with the train steaming down American Boulevard (Long Beach Blvd.) and turning right on Ocean Boulevard. They would debark at the Schylur Hotel, their winter home through Jo's elementary school years. A gifted musical prodigy able to play piano by ear at the age of three, she became a popular focus at the Lord and Taylor cafe adjacent to the hotel where she played the piano, sang and danced for the patrons, which led to her entertaining the returning World War I troops at Ft. MacArthur in San Pedro. The soldiers would give her coins for rides on the Looff carousel and the Jack Rabbit Racer Roller Coaster at the Pike. She moved to Long Beach permanently in her early teens and attended Washington Junior High School, and Poly and Wilson High Schools, where she was a writer for the school paper and was a member of the Rhombus Girls sorority at both high schools. A true tomboy, she loved swimming at the Plunge, playing basketball, and bodysurfing Long Beach's beautiful pre-breakwater waves. After graduation from Wilson's "Earthquake Class" of 1933 (first of 3 generations of Bruins) she went to work designing and decorating hats at a milliner on Ocean Blvd. in Downtown Long Beach. Two years later a gentleman dating her aunt's sister realized he was with the wrong girl, and soon thereafter she became Mrs. Dudley Clark for a wonderful 51 years. Shortly after marrying they moved to San Diego where her daughter, Carol, was born. The "little family" returned to Long Beach in 1944. Her love of fashion eventually drew her back to work at Schick's Dress Shop on Pine Ave. in the 1950s. Jo and Dudley traveled to 54 countries during their years together, starting in an era when air travel required suits, hats, and gloves. She lost the love of her life in 1986 and knew she would never find a replacement. Jo was always known for her sense of style, elegance and class from a past generation. At the age of 94 her dermatologist remarked she had the most perfect skin he had ever seen - pure porcelain. A lover of music and theater, she was a regular at the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra productions and theatrical events all over Los Angeles until this past spring. A die-hard Republican, she loved Ronald Reagan and treasured her photo in the Air Force One display at the Reagan Library. She did the New York Times crossword puzzle daily, never missing a word, including the most difficult Saturday puzzle. She was a lifelong fan of potato chips and chocolate, evident by her final meal before her death of 6 pieces of See's Candy (Nuts & Chews of course). Her only regret was she never went skydiving, which she was still attempting to do in her 90s. She is survived by her daughter, Carol Rowe; and her grandchildren, Katie Rowe, James Rowe and Carrie Bellis (John); and also by her aunt Esther, age 101; and cousin, Lee, age 80. Special thanks to Doctors Leo, Feibleman, Fischer, and Shbeeb, and caretakers, Francine, Rosa, Rea, and the staff at Trinity Hospice. In lieu of flowers and donations, toast her with a gin and tonic at 5 p.m., or eat some chocolate or potato chips. A cocktail party will be held in her honor on Thursday, September 1st at happy hour. Please contact the family for details and sign the guestbook for Jovita at www.presstelegram.com/obits.