GEORGE P. CLARKE

CLARKE--George P., Advertising Pioneer and Founder of Clarke Advertising in Manhattan, died peacefully on October 10, 2009 from complications of cancer. He was a longtime resident of the Hudson Valley and Huntington, Long Island. Born in Brooklyn, New York on February 29, 1923, George Clarke, the son of Michael Henry and Mary (O'Hara) Clarke, was a WWII veteran, and a graduate of Pratt Institute. He began his noted advertising career at Remington Rand where he wrote the first computer ad for the Univac, the world's first supercomputer. George joined the J. Walter Thompson agency in 1952 where he worked with some of their most prestigious accounts, one of which was Purolator Filters. In 1965 he founded George P. Clarke Advertising, Inc. where he became a leading expert in marketing and advertising to automotive and financial clients. The agency continues to this day under the stewardship of his son, Richard A. Clarke. He was an accomplished impressionistic (oil on canvas) painter and leaves behind his life's works of art. His last work was his view of the Hudson River from his home in Rhinebeck. George will always be remembered for his wit and storytelling skills. He could never say no to a worthy cause, and donated advertising services and his original works of art to fundraising events for the Grace Smith House and the Junior League of Poughkeepsie. George was a member of the Barrett House School of Art and spent many enjoyable hours painting with Seth Nadel and his art class. He is survived by his lovely and devoted wife Juliana Ruhland-Clarke and his stepdaughter Eva-Maria (Nate) Dickinson. He is also survived by his children Betsy, Diane Delehanty (Kevin), James (Catherine), Richard (Nanci) and son Robert and their mother Judy Jones Clarke. George will be missed by brother James (Joyce) Clarke, brother-in-law to John Ruhland, sister-in-law Pierrette Ruhlnad, his grandchildren, Julia, Brian, Patrick, Eric, Maria and Nicole and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sister, Helen, his daughter-in-law, Gigi Czechanski, and his nephew Frank Joyce. Donations may be made to the 2 BigHearts Foundation (www.2bighearts.org) and the Barrett House School of Art in Poughkeepsie, NY. A Funeral Mass will be conducted today at 10am at St. Joseph's Church, Rhinecliff, NY.