Obituary for Donald Clarke
March 20, 1930 – February 25, 2024
Donald Clarke, 93 of the Bronx, New York, passed away on Sunday February 25, 2024. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies, he was the son of the late Izzet Dudley Clarke and Ivy (Burrows) Clarke.
He was the eldest of four children and the first in his immediate family to attend high school. There was no university in Jamaica at that time and his parents couldn’t afford to send him abroad for higher education. So, early in 1948 he received an offer of a scholarship to Fordham from Father Robert I. Gannon, then president of the University. He started at Fordham in September 1948 as a junior in the college and graduated in June 1950 with a BS in chemistry. He stayed on through an assistantship in the chemistry department and completed his master’s in June 1951 and Ph.D. in the summer of 1955.
He was appointed associate professor of chemistry in 1962, and promotion to full professor in 1970. He continued in that position until last year when after over 60 years at Fordham, he retired.
Dr. Clarke was an active member of the American Chemical Society and served as its chairman for one term.
He was an amazing father, grandfather & great grandfather. Donald was an avid puzzle solver. He did the NY Times crossword puzzle every day for over 40 years. He added other puzzles over the years and inspired his great-grandchildren to play Sudoku every day.
Donald was predeceased by his beloved wife, Marie (Burrowes) Clarke, his daughter Carol Halper his sons, Stephen Clarke and Ian Clarke and his daughter-in-law, Dawn. He is survived by his devoted children, Paula Clarke, David Clarke, Sylvia Clarke and Peter Clarke, his loving grandchildren, Tracey, Samantha, Robert, Christopher, Simon, Carly and Ava and his great grandchildren, James and Emma. Donald was also the dear brother of the late Frank Clarke, the late Hope Pierce and husband Michael and the late Shiela Vickers and husband Donat, father-in-law to Edward Halper, Judy Clarke, Renee Clarke and brother-in-law to Karlene Clarke.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at the Church of the Holy Spirit, 403 Scofieldtown Road, Stamford, Connecticut on Thursday February 29, 2024 at 11:30 am. Burial will follow at Kensico Cemetery, 273 Lakeview Avenue Valhalla, New York.
In lieu of flowers donations in memory of Donald Clarke may be made to Fordham University (www.give/fordham.edu) or to the Exchange Club of Stamford --parenting skills center to provide help for kids -- (www.exchangeclubofstamford.com)
Donald Clarke, 93 of the Bronx, New York, passed away on Sunday February 25, 2024. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies, he was the son of the late Izzet Dudley Clarke and Ivy (Burrows) Clarke.
He was the eldest of four children and the first in his immediate family to attend high school. There was no university in Jamaica at that time and his parents couldn’t afford to send him abroad for higher education. So, early in 1948 he received an offer of a scholarship to Fordham from Father Robert I. Gannon, then president of the University. He started at Fordham in September 1948 as a junior in the college and graduated in June 1950 with a BS in chemistry. He stayed on through an assistantship in the chemistry department and completed his master’s in June 1951 and Ph.D. in the summer of 1955.
He was appointed associate professor of chemistry in 1962, and promotion to full professor in 1970. He continued in that position until last year when after over 60 years at Fordham, he retired.
Dr. Clarke was an active member of the American Chemical Society and served as its chairman for one term.
He was an amazing father, grandfather & great grandfather. Donald was an avid puzzle solver. He did the NY Times crossword puzzle every day for over 40 years. He added other puzzles over the years and inspired his great-grandchildren to play Sudoku every day.
Donald was predeceased by his beloved wife, Marie (Burrowes) Clarke, his daughter Carol Halper his sons, Stephen Clarke and Ian Clarke and his daughter-in-law, Dawn. He is survived by his devoted children, Paula Clarke, David Clarke, Sylvia Clarke and Peter Clarke, his loving grandchildren, Tracey, Samantha, Robert, Christopher, Simon, Carly and Ava and his great grandchildren, James and Emma. Donald was also the dear brother of the late Frank Clarke, the late Hope Pierce and husband Michael and the late Shiela Vickers and husband Donat, father-in-law to Edward Halper, Judy Clarke, Renee Clarke and brother-in-law to Karlene Clarke.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at the Church of the Holy Spirit, 403 Scofieldtown Road, Stamford, Connecticut on Thursday February 29, 2024 at 11:30 am. Burial will follow at Kensico Cemetery, 273 Lakeview Avenue Valhalla, New York.
In lieu of flowers donations in memory of Donald Clarke may be made to Fordham University (www.give/fordham.edu) or to the Exchange Club of Stamford --parenting skills center to provide help for kids -- (www.exchangeclubofstamford.com)