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In Memory

John F. Clark

John F. Clark

1948 ~ 2011
John Franklin Clark, a man of great devotion to his family, loved for his zest for life, intellectual rigor, singing and guitar playing, enthusiasm for Civil War history, and nationally known for his expertise in environmental law and historic preservation, died suddenly September 17, 2011. He suffered a heart attack at his home in Bethesda, MD, where he was recovering from a recent stroke.

Born in 1948 to J. F. "Don" and Peggy Clark, John grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah. He graduated from East High School in1966, Yale University in 1970 and the University of Utah Law School in 1974. John began his legal career as a criminal prosecutor for the Salt Lake County Attorney and then joined the local private practice of Sessions and Moore. A Democratic National Committee member for a period, John was active in Utah government and politics. This included serving as counsel to two Utah Attorneys General, special assistant to Michigan's Attorney General, and advisor to numerous political campaigns, among them the campaign of Utah Congressman Wayne Owens. He ran successful campaigns for Utah Attorneys General Paul Van Dam and Jan Graham, and was the Utah governor's liaison to the Utah Olympic bid, helping to bring the winter games to Salt Lake City in 2002.

As a Littauer Fellow at Harvard University, John received a Masters degree in Public Administration in 1995 from the University's Kennedy School of Government. John then moved his family to Washington, D.C., where he launched a career in public policy and resources management. After working at the Federal Communication Commission for four years, John practiced law with the firms of Perkins Coie; Sonnenschein, Nath and Rosenthal; and Holland Hart.

A nationally recognized expert in the field of historic preservation and cultural resources law, John was a tireless advocate for his clients. His good counsel and sage advice, along with substantive expertise, were appreciated by all of those with whom he worked throughout the country.

As an avocation and example of his non-stop intellectual curiosity, John became fascinated by Washington's so-called "minor" monuments, beautifully photographing the ubiquitous unknown statues and granite inscriptions around the capital that typically go unobserved and unremarked by residents and tourists alike. John's intellectual enthusiasm led him to the National Press Club, where he was Chairman of the Books and Authors Committee. John's love of politics, history and justice converged in his passion for Civil War history. With family members who fought on both sides of that war, he was an experienced battlefield guide, known for his personal tours of Gettysburg which wove together the national and personal histories and emotions of that conflict.

Music was ever present in John's life. He was a superb folk-guitar player with a spot-on baritone and a memory bank of lyrics to hundreds of songs his family and companions loved to sing with him. But most of all, John's life centered on his family.

He is survived by his loving wife Carole Ann; his devoted children Lauren Marie, Jonathan Fabian, and Timothy Alan Clark and his siblings Frances Garrett, Shelley Rubrecht, and Robert Clark. He was preceded in death by his parents and a son, Peter Elliot Clark.




 

 
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03/30/16 04:43 PM #1    

Vicky Hedges (Bohlig)

Oh, John.  "I always thought that I'd see you again."   I planned to talk and talk and talk about all our life events and compare notes and laugh and cry and sing together once more.  I am so sad we didn't get the chance.  


03/30/16 10:21 PM #2    

Sissel Hadel (Hawkes)

I agree with Vicky...you are missed,John.
I read about your life with wonder...so many varied interests and enviable experiences in music,law,history,our environment. ....and you were loved....I really like what Heidi posted....

04/18/16 12:26 PM #3    

Margaret Horne (Bown)

Just want to say that John was one of my most favorite friends in high school.  He was so fun and stimulating to talk to because he loved everything about life and our world.  He is greatly missed.     


05/03/16 08:10 PM #4    

Linda Robertson (Lake)

John was the best! We spent many late nights figuring out the whys of life at east.The memories of good friends are always a treasure.  Robie Robertson Lake


05/06/16 08:30 PM #5    

Cindy Atack (White)

John , was a very special person in my life.We went through grade school, Clayton, and East together.He had a beautiful soul, for such a young person.

I am not surprised; That he was such a success in his life.We dated; a few times and he spent many times with friends and my house.Very sad he died very young with still so very much to give to the world. Cindy Atack White.


06/19/16 05:43 PM #6    

Rudy Thompson

enjoyed you all three years at East, and always remember your company. good friend


06/20/16 02:51 PM #7    

Jim Wetzel

What an amazing, accomplished life.

 


06/23/16 12:27 AM #8    

Sissel Hadel (Hawkes)

...so happy to read the new posts about John


06/23/16 12:24 PM #9    

Heidi Hayes (Jacobs)

There was no one who had a greater influence on me in high school than John. A genuine intellectual and fearless debater, his rational and probing mind was extraordinary. We would talk on the phone for hours preparing our debate case arguments, discussing politics, and making sense of the world.... I was relentlessly mesmerized by his brilliance.  He was also very very funny and he could get me laughing easily.     On a very personal level, I was the only girl on the debate team and he wanted to be my partner; and  back then, that was something special.      I do miss him. 


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