Peter Barton Clark

07/11/1941 - 12/11/2025

July 11, 1941- December 11, 2025

Peter B. Clark was born in Providence, RI to Janet Barber Clark and Samuel Drury Clark. A man of paramount integrity, he was kind, respectful, generous, intellectually curious, and did his best in all endeavors and interactions. With his beloved wife of 65 years, Heide-Hede Koenitzer Clark, he resided in Washington, DC 1971- 1987 and then in Chevy Chase, Maryland 1987- 2025.

As a student and in work Peter was diligent and thorough. He graduated from the Putney School in Vermont in 1959; from Reed College Phi Beta Kappa with a BA in philosophy, minor in economics, in 1963; and from MIT with a PhD in economics in 1967, with Woodrow Wilson first year and dissertation fellowships.

Peter's career was in economics. His last position was Senior Advisor, Immediate Office, Research Department at the International Monetary Fund, where he worked in a variety of Chief positions (1984- 2004). This included a one-year sabbatical at the London School of Economics (1995- 96). Other positions included Chief and Senior Economist in various departments and sections at the Federal Reserve Board (1972-73, 1973- 78, 1979- 84); US Department of State (1978-79); and the US Treasury Department (1971- 72). He had six months leave to work at the University of Bonn, Germany (1975). Peter began his career as Assistant Professor of Economics at Duke University (1967- 71).

In collaboration with esteemed colleagues, during his career Peter published 40 articles and six book reviews; wrote 15 unpublished articles; and presented 17 papers. After retirement he wrote two books: "The Death of East Prussia: War and Revenge in Germany's Easternmost Province," Andover Press (2013) and "Germans Defying Hitler: The Many Faces of Resistance," Opus Self-Publishing, Politics & Prose Bookstore (2022). With a foreword by his brother Thomas W. Clark, he published his Reed thesis "The Compatibility of Free Will and Determinism," Opus Self-Publishing, Politics & Prose Bookstore (2023).

Diagnosed with Parkinson's at age 71 and in more recent years also stoically suffering from atrial fibrillation, Peter died after a traumatic fall. His last hours were peaceful, and he passed away with his wife Heide, their daughter Vanessa, and their son Barton at his side.

A real "family man," Peter is survived by his wife, who was born in Koenigsberg, East Prussia; their daughter and her husband; their son and his wife; and three grandsons. Two brothers Tom and Sam also survive "Pete," brother Jeff, and sister Kitty. He will be interred after a family ceremony in Juniper Hill Cemetery in Bristol, RI. RIP.