Dear
Friends and Schoolmates,
I am truly
devastated
to impart this sad news to you tonight. 
Chip Clark, Class of
1965, passed away
unexpectedly in his sleep at his home in Alexandria of heart disease in the early
morning hours of Saturday,
June 12, 2010 at the age of 62. The brother of
Peyton Clark ('68) of NC, his father, 
Roy Clark, Chapel Hill High School Class of @ 1935, preceded him in death less than a
year ago:
http://nnhs65.com/07-15-09-NNHS-Roy-Clark.html
From Carla Fine Cripps ('65) of
Australia -
06/15/10, 11:03 PM - "NNHS 65 website: sad obit info...":
Hi, Carol,
Hope all is well with you and yours. Not sure how you find out about
NNHS
grads, but I thought that if you hadn't heard, I'd advise the sad news
that R.E. "Chip" Clark, Jr. (Class of '65) passed away Friday
night. You were one of the first kids I met in our old neighborhood when
I first moved to NNVA, so I guess he used to play with all of us back
then, then we all went on to
NNHS
and full lives after that. Anyway, I don't have any details except that
his widow said he was not in any distress and went quietly in his sleep.
Regards,
Carla Fine Cripps, Class of '65 |
Ohhh,
Carla, I cannot even think of my childhood without thinking of you and Chippy.
I am absolutely numb, but thank you
so much for letting me know.
From
Peyton Clark ('68) of NC - 06/16/10, 12:00 PM phone call:
|
... Chip
passed away peacefully in his sleep early Saturday morning..... He had
complained of shortness of breath for the last two or three weeks, but
saw his physician on June 3, and had an EKG which was within normal
boundaries. His death was completely unexpected.....
Funeral arrangements are
incomplete at this time, but private services will be held in
Washington, D.C. on Monday, June 21.....
Peyton, I'm so very, very sorry.
You have my sincerest sympathies. |
From
Me
('65) of IL - 06/16/10:
I've loved and adored Chip since
we were children. We were usually in the same classroom at
Magruder School, and we
frequently sat next to each other, particularly if the class was
arranged alphabetically. As we both had summer birthdays (Chippy
was ten days older than I), on the last full day of school we were the
Birthday Children who sat at the head of the class - again, side by
side.
|
 |
|
When I moved back
East in 2001 after thirty years in the Midwest, Chip was one of the
first old school friends that I saw, when
Bobby
(deceased 09 Dec 2008)
and Dawn Yevak drove
 Paul
(Harty - Bardolph HS, IL - '61 - of IL)
and me up from North Carolina to see
David Ellenson
deliver that incredible flawless speech at Christopher Newport
University:
http://www.nnhs65.com/10-04-02-DHE.html |
Friday, October 4, 2002
Christopher Newport University |
|
NNHS Class of 1965
Alumni - Chip Clark, Rabbi David Ellenson, Carol Buckley Harty, Rev.
John Yevak (Bobby), Harron Ellenson, Dennis Ivey, and Becky Crank Tench |
Over the years he generously made many
valuable contributions to our website - including these marvelous first
images of a budding photographer -
http://nnhs65.com/Bonus-ChipsPix.html,
these of his work in Belize in 2006 -
http://nnhs65.com/Chips-Pix-in-Belize.html, and these taken at
our 40-Year Reunion in 2005 -
http://nnhs65.com/CHIP-CLARKS-NN-TOUR.html.
|
|
You surely recognize that the image we use
on the main page of our website is the one he captured the day of our
graduation.
I last saw him when we danced together at the 40-Year Reunion in 2005.
It's a lovely memory.
Rest well, Chippy
Darlin'. I shall miss you.
|
 |
|
|
|
Thursday, June 3, 1965 |
|
Newport News High School |
From Carla Fine Cripps ('65) of Australia - 06/16/10, 5:45 PM - "Chip":
Oh, Carol, I'm so sorry that I
didn't realize it would hit you so hard... But then again, I've been
away from the US and NN for so long, I've kinda lost touch with other
people's reality. But I'm glad that my impulse to contact you helped,
even while it was hurting. I had merely sent Deb a cute email about
getting older, as you do from time to time, and when she wrote back with
what had happened, I was so stunned I couldn't take it in. I rushed to
the front of the house to tell my husband, who'd met Chip a time or two
and put up with me "rabbiting on" (Ausspeak) about him, and yeah, our
childhood/adolescence, and I couldn't even tell him what Deb actually
said, beyond that Chip was gone. So my crying came later...
The whole time I was writing you, I was flashing on when we first moved
to NN and lived on that little cul de sac in half a duplex where I think
you lived up on the main road in a "regular" house, sort of catty-corner
from ours. I didn't start out having a lot of clear memories about the
kids at that time, but I do remember playing you, Chip, and
Jeannie Collier (Fitzgerald - '65
- of VA), and some younger kids, the Hoffmans, I think, who
lived across the clotheslines back of my house...and some of the many
Dorn kids, who lived in the other direction from you...trick or
treating (I'll go off sobbing again in a minute...) ...and the Little
League Park behind the Dorns' house...so it's coming back in dribs and
drabs. I have more memories from 22nd Street, where we moved after
living near you and onwards through high school, the most from after we
moved to Hidenwood, and of course, later on, almost up until the end.
Deb said at that stage they were thinking of a small, family funeral,
but I sure wish I was geographically close enough to come over and at
least see some of y'all, but because of the distance and expense and
because my life is tied up with my husband's and his family and all,
there's a possibility we may need to go to England next June/July, and
if we do that, to maybe (a very big maybe at this stage) swing around to
the US, probably for the last time, and so couldn't really afford to
come before then. Plus, the air travel, esp. in the US is hellaciously
convoluted, blah-de-blah, so I'll just have to watch from the sidelines.
My deep and sincere condolences to you, too, Matey. He was very dear to
a lot of us, wasn't he? He left too soon, but it was a great gift to
have known him. As a matter of fact, In re-writing this note, I flashed
on Edna St Vincent Millay's famous poem, "First Fig," and took the
liberty of adding my take on how it refers to Chip:
"My candle burns at both ends [not because Chip was
dissolute, because he absolutely wasn't, but because he was so deeply
and actively engaged with life];
It will not last the night [forever wouldn't have been long
enough...];
But ah, my foes [I can't imagine there were any],
and oh, my friends [there were so many]--
It gives a lovely light! [It certainly did...and its glow will warm
us for the rest of our lives...]"
Warm, warm regards, and do write again if you feel the need...
Carla
Thank you so very much, Carla!
I no doubt will be writing you soon - as soon as I can force myself back
into some semblance of reality.
(I actually lived in
the same Stuart Homes apartments
that you did, but we were catty-cornered from each other - I on 16th
Street and you and
Rick Harman ('65 - of VA), and
Helene ('64) and Kenny ('67) Flick on Peterson Place.
David Ellenson
('65 - of NY) was in one of the regular houses just around the
corner from me on Oak Avenue; Jeannie was nearer to you on 18th Street.) |
From Dave Arnold
('65) of VA - 06/16/10, 8:45 PM:
Here we are in the midst of planning for the
45th reunion and we receive this stunning news. Chip was one of the people, as
Carol described so well, who was always excited about something and anxious to
share what he knew. I believe his greatest talent was behind a camera lens when
he was able to quietly move around and capture wonderful photographs of people
who didn't realize they were his subjects. His quick smile and enthusiasm for
just being with people will be sorely missed.
Dave Arnold
Thank you, Dave, that's exactly so.
From Peyton Clark ('68) of NC
- 06/16/10, 9:21 PM - "Music, Maestro, Please":
Thanks for the preview of Chip's page..... How about Aaron Copeland's
"Fanfare for the Common Man". Chip did play cornet in elementary and the
first year of high school, so trumpets would be appropriate.
Here's another HS photo of Chip. I'm including the photo I took of you
at our 40th reunion in 2008 and a more recent photo of me, too. I've
changed a little since junior year.
Thanks for your love and
support,
Peyton |
|
|
 |
|
| |
Saturday, September 27, 2008 |
Thursday, May 14, 2009 |
|
Chippy Clark |
Adrienne Harty and Carol
Buckley Harty ('65), then of NC |
Peyton Clark ('68) of NC |
| |
| Thank
you so much for these images, Peyton, and your choice of music is
perfect for Chip, as I knew it would be.
|
|
From Peyton Clark ('68) of NC - 06/17/10, 8:49 AM - "Update on Chip":
Hi Carol,
...The Fanfare sounds good. And the page and comments are great. Thanks
for all your hard work in maintaining the website. I liked reading what
Chip wrote in your Anchor. Nice touch.
I've gotten word that the medical examiner and Chip's doctor have ruled
the death was due to heart disease, so you'll need to correct that on
the page.
And just for your additional info, there is an exceptionally large
turnout expected from the Smithsonian, the caver community, and the vast
number of friends Chip had. So the service will be just for family at
the cemetery.
Afterward there will be a reception, open to all friends and family,
3-5pm at the Fairlington Villages Community Center, 3001 South Abington
Street, Arlington VA 22206. This location is near Chip’s home.
www.fairlingtonvillages.com/about-maps.html
In lieu of flowers, they are asking for friends to make contributions on
his behalf to WETA or WAMU (the local PBS television and radio stations)
and the National Speleological Society. One of Chip’s favorite programs
was NOVA and he listened to NPR radio every morning. He was an avid
caver and cave photographer and long standing member of the NSS.
For WETA -
https://secure2.convio.net/weta/site/Donation2?1400.donation=form1&df_id=1400
For WAMU -
http://wamu.org/support/membership/campaign/
For NSS -
http://www.caves.org/donate/
I don't know if you would want to put all this on the page, especially
since there is a time factor involved, but I wanted to let you know.
There will be a larger celebration sometime in the fall put on by the
Museum. I'll let you know when that is arranged.
Thanks again,
Peyton
Thanks so much, Peyton.
There's no time like the present, so I'm including it all now - and I've
made the necessary changes. |
From
Bobbie Smith Horwitz ('65) of TX - 06/17/10, 10:37 AM - "Chip
Clark":My daughter
went to law school in D.C. so after more than 30 years I gave Chip a
call to see if we could all get together. He was, as always, funny,
gentlemanly, self-effacing, and pleased to see us both. Several
months later, my son was in D.C. and Chip gave us a behind the
scenes tour of the Smithsonian and some of its unseen treasures.
Chip's breadth of knowledge was amazing, as was some of the famous
jewelry there to be photographed and cared for. And the stories
about some of the famous artifacts he had photographed, the places
he had been, and the things he had done! On the whole a
once-in-a-lifetime experience. He is sorely missed.
Bobbie Smith Horwitz
That he is, Bobbie. Thank
you so much.
|
From Joyce Lawrence Cahoon ('65) of
VA -
06/17/10, 3:47 PM - "Chip Clark":
|
|
Carol,
...How sad about Chippy. It's
always sad when our old friends die but when it is a sudden death it
seems extra hard to deal with. Chippy used to bring his rock
collection to Ms Little's 5th grade class and he wore his Boy Scout
uniform and told everyone all the technical names for the rocks and
where they were found. Strange how some things stick in your
memory. He must have made it really interesting if I can remember
him after all these many years.
 Joyce
Cahoon
|
| Thank you, Joyce!
I cherish those snippets of memories! |
From the Head
Cheerleader of 1965, Pam Smith Arnold of VA -
06/17/10, 6:03 PM - "Chippy":
Carol,
This looks great. I, too, am in shock. As part of the "Magruder
crowd," I remember Chippy in awe. I always wanted to be smart,
and Chippy,
Allan White (of NJ), and
David Ellenson
(of NY) were my idols. What a loss! As Obi-wan would say, I feel
a shudder in the Force. I am so very sad.
Love, Pam
Thank you, Cousin Pam.
I am, too - still alternating between being numb and just sobbing; it
all just seems so unthinkable. |
From Rosalee Wills Jecmenek ('65) of TX - 06/18/10, 10:25 PM:
Dear Carol,
I am still reeling over the news of my
dear friend, Chip....he has remained one of my closet friends over all these
years and hearing of his death grieves me more than I can say. He came down
to Houston several years back and spent two whole weeks with me and my
family....we took him all over the place down here and we had such a
wonderful and memorable time....he especially loved touring and
photographing the NASA space center. He was larger than life to me.....I
will miss his big hugs, that twinkle in his eye, his mischievous nature and
his great big heart.....my heart-felt sympathy goes out to his family at
this very sad time......we will never see his likes again, and we will miss
him terribly. He would not want any of us to think of him in sadness,
though, and so I will just remember his smile, his wit, and his friendship
...and only the good...rest well, my dear friend...
Rosalee
Thank you so much, Rosalee, you're
right, of course.
From the National Jeweler Network -
06/21/10:
Smithsonian gemstone photographer Chip Clark dies
June 21, 2010
Washington--Chip Clark, a staff photographer for the Smithsonian's
Museum of Natural History who snapped iconic images of some of the
institution's most famous gems and minerals during his career, passed
away on June 12, according to a memoriam in the Roskin Gem News
Report.
http://www.roskingemnews.com/Master_Page/TradeNews.aspx
He died unexpectedly at his home, the report said.
| An integral part
of the museum's research team since 1973, Clark photographed
everything from the Smithsonian's collection of dinosaur bones
and mummies to two of the world's most extraordinary blue
stones: the Hope and Wittelsbach-Graff diamonds, among much
more. A graduate of the Virginia
Polytechnic Institute, Clark brought his skills to a range of
different organizations. He worked for NASA, taught high school
in Newport News, Va., and completed freelance photography
assignments for the National Geographic Society, the National
Wildlife Federation and Scientific American. Clark also shot
many of the now-famous Tucson Gem and Mineral Show posters,
according to Gary Roskin of the Roskin Gem News Report.
In lieu of flowers, Clark's family has asked for contributions
on his behalf to WETA or WAMU, the local PBS television and
radio stations, which Clark often tuned into, as well as the
National Speleological Society, a not-for-profit organization
dedicated to the study, conservation, exploration and knowledge
of caves, of which Clark was a long-standing member. |
|
 |
|
Chip Clark's Image
of the Hope Diamond |
| |
|
From Rosalee Wills Jecmenek ('65) of TX - 06/23/10, 6:35 PM - "A Photographer's
Passion - An Interview with the Late Chip Clark ":
|
Dear Carol.....
I am sending you a you tube of that
same audio of Chip...it is so wonderful to see him as well as hear
him....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clVM11iriaA
- A Photographer's Passion - An
Interview with the Late Chip Clark
"Recently,
we lost a longtime colleague and friend - photographer Roy 'Chip' Clark.
This interview is one of his last and showcases the passion for his job
that made Chip a valued member of our community. Read about his nearly
40-year career at NMNH:
http://bit.ly/cGHVpT"
Love, Rosalee
Oh, WOW! Thank you so
much, dear Rosalee!
|
From Sarah Puckett Kressaty ('65) of
VA - 06/23/10, 9:55 PM - "Chip":
Carol:
I am SO shocked about Chip! What a sweetheart he was - and incredible
photographer. I haven’t kept up with
the newsletters and this
was quite a shock! What a loss!
S.
Thank you, Sarah Sugah.
It was indeed a dreadful shock. I can scarcely believe it myself even
now; it just seems to make no sense whatsoever. |
From Allan White ('65) of NJ -
06/25/10, 9:51 AM - "Chip":
| I do not think I can express the
feelings of shock, loss, and sadness more eloquently than Chip's many
friends have done already, so I'll just say: I miss him, too.
Thank you, Allan.
I'll echo that once
more. |
| From the Washington Post -
07/11/10 and from the Daily Press - 07/14/10: |
Roy E. "Chip" Clark, Jr.
| |
|
|
 |
|
ARLINGTON - ROY E. CLARK, JR.
"Chip"
August 20, 1947 - June
13, 2010
ARLINGTON
- Roy Edward "Chip" Clark Jr., 62, passed away unexpectedly at his home
in Arlington, Va., of natural causes on June 13, 2010.
The son of
the late Roy and Betty Davis Clark of Newport News, VA, Chip leaves
behind his wife, Debbie Clark; daughter, Jessica; brother, Peyton with
his wife, Melba, nephew, Eric and niece, Jillian. |
|
|
Chip Clark |
| |
| |
|
|
|
A graduate of
Virginia Tech, Chip taught high school science in Newport News before moving to
northern Virginia in 1972. He was Senior Scientific and Studio Photographer at
the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, where he served for almost
38 years photographing the nation's treasures, scientific expeditions around the
world, exhibitions and members of the museum community at work. He was also a
long standing member of the National Speleological Society and renowned cave
photographer.
A family graveside
service was held at Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC on June 21, 2010.
In lieu of
flowers, the family asks for contributions on his behalf to PBS stations WETA or
WAMU or the National Speleological Society. View and post condolences on our
online guestbook at
dailypress.com/guestbooks.
For WETA -
https://secure2.convio.net/weta/site/Donation2?1400.donation=form1&df_id=1400
For WAMU -
http://wamu.org/support/membership/campaign/
For NSS - http://www.caves.org/donate/
Published in The Washington Post on July 11, 2010.
Published in Daily Press from
July 14 to July 15, 2010.
|
|
Aye, we hardly knew you! Sympathy to his family.
~ Marilyn Groome, High Point, North Carolina
My
prayers are with the family.
I met Chip at the Smithsonian
around 1990 when my boyfriend Scott Parker who was later my husband took
me to Washington D.C. Chip was Scott's cousin, and we decided to look
him up while we were there. He was a very nice man and I feel lucky to
have met him. I still have pictures from that day. My sympathies to your
family; your family has lost a very special man.
I met Chip
about 12 years ago while working with the Jamestown Rediscovery project as
he usually accompanied Doug Owsley from the Smithsonian. He was always very
professional and very funny. In 2005, the project went to England for a week
to search for a DNA match for Barthlomew Gosnold. One night at a pub for
dinner, Chip decided to be adventurous and ordered "Stinking Bishop" cheese,
which lived up to its name. It didn't faze Chip... much. My business partner
and I always looked forward to working with him. He will be sorely missed.
My deepest sympathies go to his family.
~ Richard Borenstein, Yorktown, Virginia
|
Our deepest
condolences are extended to Chip's entire family and their
friends at this difficult
time.
This
information is also posted here:
http://nnhs65.com/memoriam-all.html
http://nnhs65.com/memoriam.html
From Peyton Clark ('68) of NC - 11/29/10 - "Smithsonian Memorial for
Chip (Clark - '65)":
Hi Carol,
... I know you cannot make it, but I wanted to let you know of a special
celebration that the Smithsonian is having in Chip's honor this Friday.
The invitation is below...
Thanks, and I hope you have a happy holiday season,
Peyton
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** **** ***** ***** |
You are invited to attend “A Celebration of the Life and Photography
of NMNH Photographer
Chip Clark
('65)”
on Friday, December 3, 2010 at 10 AM in Baird Auditorium, National Museum of
Natural History. This illustrated program will be an opportunity to celebrate
his career, stories and accomplishments.
Thank you so much, Peyton! How
I wish I could be there!
Y'all take care of each other!
TYPHOONS FOREVER! We'll
Always Have
Buckroe!
Love to all, Carol
==============================================
NNHS CLASS OF '65 WEB SITE:
http://www.nnhs65.com
PERSONAL WEB SITE:
http://www.angelfire.com/weird2/cluckmeat
==============================================
Carol Buckley
Harty
618-530-9092
|
|
