Thomas Andrew Clark

Thomas Andrew Clark, 69, of Princeton, passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 26, 2026, at the Morris Cancer Center in New Brunswick.

Born on November 1, 1956, in Jersey City, he was adopted by parents he described as "the greatest anyone could ask for." His father, Andrew V. Clark, was an attorney, and his mother, Dorothy (née Zahn), worked at Clifton Savings.

Tom grew up in Mountainside, Perth Amboy, and Edison, with idyllic summers and winters at Lake Glenwood in Vernon. He graduated from Saint Joseph's in Metuchen, and attended Boston University before earning his undergraduate degree from Rutgers and his JD in 1986 from the Mississippi College School of Law in Jackson, Mississippi. Tom practiced law for 30 years at the family firm of Seaman & Clark, and retired prior to his passing.

Tom met his late wife, Kelly Procaccino, in a real "meet cute" at the Hudibras in 1978. For Tom, it was love at first sight, while Kelly went to the library the very next day to hunt down his contact information. They were together for 42 years and had a beloved daughter, Haley M. Clark.

Tom loved long summer days down the shore, legendary nights out with lifelong friends, perfecting new recipes, and showing off his near-encyclopedic memory of great actors in great films.

But his great love in life, besides his wife and daughter, was music. Tom went to hundreds of concerts, some legendary, mostly at prices that make us in 2026 weep with envy. He was a fabulous singer and songwriter, and was almost always in a band (or three) at any given time. He had endless stories – who can forget when Strider performed at CBGB's and earned Hilly Kristal's approval with a song whose title can't be published?

After Kelly's passing in 2020, Tom found renewed purpose in recording and performing music. He believed that creative pursuits were among life's most meaningful endeavors, and encouraged everyone he met to "just start" with their passions, no matter how small.

Tom was predeceased by his wife, Kelly Procaccino; his parents, Andrew and Dorothy Clark; and his sister, Dorothy "Dottee" Clark-Bilgrav, and her husband, Bob.

He is survived by his daughter, Haley, and her partner Anthony Gatto; his brother, Kevin Clark, and his wife, Michele; his nieces, Emily Clark, Grace Clark, Ashley Israel, Alexis Stemler; his nephews, Andrew Bilgrav, Tommy Bilgrav, and Christopher Lanahan; as well as a host of grand-nieces.

Per Tom's wishes, there will be no viewing or formal funeral. A celebration of life will occur at a later date, details TBD.

Arrangements are under the direction of The Mather-Hodge Funeral Home.