Clarence was such a sweet guy. I remember that he would always say "Hi" to everyone he passed in the hall whether he knew you or not. Tragically lost but not forgotten....
I remember him as always smiling. And I always called him clearance Clarence. I don't know why. I remember crying for days when saw the newspaper article. Sadly missed
I remember Clarence as a very funny guy and a good friend. Before school we would sit at our table and some of the guys would start ribbing on each other. Clarence always found a way to win and make everyone laugh. My favorite line was something like this; Your house is so dirty that the cockroaches use cheerios as hula hoops.
Clarence was one of those people who didn't really care how well he knew you, how you dressed, or what "click" you belonged to- he was simply genuine to everyone he came across. One thing I will always remember about Clarence was that everytime we would bump into each other in the halls of Bradford, I would always kid with him, "Hey Clarence! Did you get the new Slayer album?". And his reply would always be, "Oh yeah!!! But did you get the new Fat Boys album? Now that's where it's at!!!" We'd laugh and head off to where we were going. The world could use a few more people like Clarence.
20 years later, I remember him often and still have the articles from the Kenosha News of his death. I remember how sweet he was and how at Bullen Middle School (9th Grade) he wanted to go out with me, and I kept turning him down but how we would talk on the phone often. I remember him "rapping" in the Bullen lunch room and then calling me that night sincerely wanting to know what I thought about it! He asked me if I didn't want to go out with him because he was black, and I was shocked and told him that was definitely not the reason! Privately, I never told him (or anyone) how shy, scared and inexperienced I felt towards the opposite sex and apart from going to the 9th Grade dance with Doug Ziehlsdorf (as friends) and a short couple weeks of dating some Sophomore (I was a Junior), whom I don't even remember but whom I jumped at the chance to date just because I'd been asked by someone FINALLY (!) - my first real dating/relationship was with my now husband DAVID L. MAACK (19 years, Baby!!!)
I still have a problem going to Lake Michigan and have probably only brought my children to swim there once (on the invitation of a friend when our kids were toddlers). I know like many - I'm scarred. I can't change; recreational swinmming in our beatiful waters holds no attraction for me. Sorry, I just can't do it.
I drove by him and his friend (who also drowned) down by the Lake on their bikes - the day before they both died and talked to them. The next day I was hurrying to my performance with the children's summer theatre when the radio popped on and was talking about a drowning; I thought it weird at the time because I usually turned my radio off. I quickly turned it off, but when I got to the outdoor stage everyone was talking about his death...I left before the performance even began and that night destroyed my entire room and evertything in it...
Silver lining?...after Clarence's death I inwardly spiraled down my Junior year - my mom was worried about me and took herself, me and my sister Marcy to church in the Fall of 1987. I stayed on after they stopped going. In January 1988 I asked Jesus Christ into my heart and to have my wretched, pathetic life. Since then it hasn't been always easy (believe me if you knew what a mental mess I was and the things I had to shed:^) but gone is the depression and thoughts of suicide and worthlessness and hopelessness and senselessness and all around lack of purpose. I wish there were some way I could help honor Clarence's memory. I miss him as much today as 20 years ago.
Betty Rombalski (Turner)
Clarence was such a sweet guy. I remember that he would always say "Hi" to everyone he passed in the hall whether he knew you or not. Tragically lost but not forgotten....Deana Johnson (Rossi)
I remember him as always smiling. And I always called him clearance Clarence. I don't know why. I remember crying for days when saw the newspaper article. Sadly missedDon Coolidge
I remember Clarence as a very funny guy and a good friend. Before school we would sit at our table and some of the guys would start ribbing on each other. Clarence always found a way to win and make everyone laugh. My favorite line was something like this; Your house is so dirty that the cockroaches use cheerios as hula hoops.David Saaski
I find myself warning my children (to this day) about the dangers of undertoe currents... and always think of Clarence.What a very nice example of a human being he was!
Michael Smith
Clarence was one of those people who didn't really care how well he knew you, how you dressed, or what "click" you belonged to- he was simply genuine to everyone he came across. One thing I will always remember about Clarence was that everytime we would bump into each other in the halls of Bradford, I would always kid with him, "Hey Clarence! Did you get the new Slayer album?". And his reply would always be, "Oh yeah!!! But did you get the new Fat Boys album? Now that's where it's at!!!" We'd laugh and head off to where we were going. The world could use a few more people like Clarence.Donna Boettcher (Peterson)
Clarence was my only friend in World Issues class. God should have never taken him, he made the world such a brighter place.Amy Hernandez (Maack)
20 years later, I remember him often and still have the articles from the Kenosha News of his death. I remember how sweet he was and how at Bullen Middle School (9th Grade) he wanted to go out with me, and I kept turning him down but how we would talk on the phone often. I remember him "rapping" in the Bullen lunch room and then calling me that night sincerely wanting to know what I thought about it! He asked me if I didn't want to go out with him because he was black, and I was shocked and told him that was definitely not the reason! Privately, I never told him (or anyone) how shy, scared and inexperienced I felt towards the opposite sex and apart from going to the 9th Grade dance with Doug Ziehlsdorf (as friends) and a short couple weeks of dating some Sophomore (I was a Junior), whom I don't even remember but whom I jumped at the chance to date just because I'd been asked by someone FINALLY (!) - my first real dating/relationship was with my now husband DAVID L. MAACK (19 years, Baby!!!)I still have a problem going to Lake Michigan and have probably only brought my children to swim there once (on the invitation of a friend when our kids were toddlers). I know like many - I'm scarred. I can't change; recreational swinmming in our beatiful waters holds no attraction for me. Sorry, I just can't do it.
I drove by him and his friend (who also drowned) down by the Lake on their bikes - the day before they both died and talked to them. The next day I was hurrying to my performance with the children's summer theatre when the radio popped on and was talking about a drowning; I thought it weird at the time because I usually turned my radio off. I quickly turned it off, but when I got to the outdoor stage everyone was talking about his death...I left before the performance even began and that night destroyed my entire room and evertything in it...
Silver lining?...after Clarence's death I inwardly spiraled down my Junior year - my mom was worried about me and took herself, me and my sister Marcy to church in the Fall of 1987. I stayed on after they stopped going. In January 1988 I asked Jesus Christ into my heart and to have my wretched, pathetic life. Since then it hasn't been always easy (believe me if you knew what a mental mess I was and the things I had to shed:^) but gone is the depression and thoughts of suicide and worthlessness and hopelessness and senselessness and all around lack of purpose. I wish there were some way I could help honor Clarence's memory. I miss him as much today as 20 years ago.
Don Coolidge
Here is an article that mentions Clarence.
http://journaltimes.com/news/local/article_6d50e95a-162d-565b-be36-66d543f74278.html