Clark Z Coley

Clark Z. Coley, 81, of Ringwood, New Jersey, passed away on a Thursday morning, June 6, 2024. An Interment Ceremony will be held at St. Mary's Cemetery in Saddle Brook, NJ on Wednesday June 26th at 11:00am. All are welcome.
Clark was born on September 13th, 1942 in Manhattan, New York. He was raised by his grandparents Stephen and Ursula Liptak who he addressed as "Gramps" and "Mom" respectively. From the age of 7 Clark worked with Gramps buying produce from Paterson's Farmer's Market then peddling it from Gramps' truck to residents of Radburn, one of the first modern planned communities in the United States. He was part of the first graduating class of Elmwood Park Memorial High School where he scored notably high marks.
In 1966 he was drafted into the US Army to serve in the Vietnam War which he did honorably. Upon completing his tour in the Southeast Asiatic Theater of Operations, his character of service and impressive intelligence inspired an early release to attend college and he was transferred to the US Army Reserve. While serving as a reservist he worked local jobs and studied with tenacity to earn his college degree from Rutgers University. Shortly after graduation he secured a position at Financial Services Inc. in Glen Rock, NJ where he climbed his way to the Executive level and eventually retired.
Prior to his military service Clark attended a church dance (St. Leo's in Elmwood Park) and met the love of his life, Marian Terkmany, to whom he was married for 60 years. Their daughter Robin arrived in 1969, while Marian and Clark lived in Elmwood Park. Their son Clark arrived in 1972 shortly after the family moved to their forever home in Ringwood.
Clark treasured the outdoors, was an excellent provider and loved his family without limits. He lived in his way and moved his world by shear will. He was fiercely independent and believed in the abilities of people to overcome any adversity. He never demonstrated political correctness yet he was kind and generous and an excellent judge of character. If you earnestly went to him for help you received it.
Clark is survived by his children Robin and Clark (Patricia), his beloved granddaughter Madeline Coley, and his sister Constance Bognar.
If you would like to donate in Clark's honor, don't...he would say,"...you take that money and do something nice for your family...go enjoy life!".