Dr. Michael A. Clarke

1936 - 2023

Dr. Michael A. Clarke
May 29, 1936 - May 21, 2023
Salida, California - Mike was born in Fresno, California.
He lived in a number of communities in California due to his father's job as a store manager for Montgomery Ward. His father managed the store here in Modesto in the early 1960's.
He graduated from Alhambra High School and attended UCLA. He was a life-long fan of the Bruins.
Mike moved to San Francisco to continue his education. He attended the University of California San Francisco School of Dentistry where he received his Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Dental Surgery degrees. While studying in San Francisco, Mike met his future wife Jeanine, a nursing student. They were married two years before his graduation.
Shortly after receiving his dental degree, Mike joined a group dental practice in Oakland. His first experience as a dentist ended when he received a draft notice from the U.S. Army.
Following Army training in Texas, he was stationed at Fort Ord, California, for 2 years, caring for military personnel in the dental clinic.
Mike practiced general dentistry in Hollister, California, for 2 years, then decided to return to school to become a specialist. He entered the University of Washington School of Dentistry and Medicine, completing specialty training in Periodontics, as well as completing a Master of Science Degree in Pathology.
He and his family moved to Southern California where he taught at the University of Southern California School of Dentistry.
Deciding to return to Northern California, the family moved to Castro Valley. Mike's private practice was limited to Periodontics and he taught dental students at the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry in San Francisco. He then taught full time in the Dental Health Program at Chabot Community College, Hayward, California.
Mike served on a number of local and state boards and committees for various dental professional organizations.
Following retirement, Mike trained as a docent for the Natural Science and History Galleries at the Oakland Museum of California. He served in this capacity until moving to Salida following his wife's retirement.
Even before moving to the Central Valley, Mike contacted the McHenry Museum in Modesto regarding becoming a docent there. Over time he served as the School Tour Leader, wrote a Docent Training Manual, and served as Docent Training Coordinator.
While still volunteering at the McHenry Museum, Mike and his wife took the training classes to become docents at the McHenry Mansion. He volunteered there for several years, and was an enthusiastic member of the Merry Maid/Groomsmen Outreach Team whose members visit area third grade classes, dressed in 1880s costumes, to share the story of the McHenry family before the students visit the Mansion.
Mike also became a docent at the Great Valley Museum when it was in the small building near the Modesto Junior College East Campus. He continued his Great Valley Museum activities when the new museum opened on the MJC west campus, serving as a gallery and school tour docent. He also served as Docent Training Coordinator, and wrote both a Docent Training and School Tour Training Manual.
Mike's love of teaching and writing made his docent volunteering a very rewarding second career.
Mike is survived by his wife Jeanine, his 4 grown daughters, 3 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren, and his brother and sister.