Richard L Clark

Richard Lloyd Clark MD, age 77, passed away on Tuesday July 19, 2016 in Mansfield, OH.  
He was born at home in Windsor, ON on December 27, 1938, the fourth of five children of a closely knit family.  Graduating from Patterson Collegiate where he excelled scholastically and athletically.  He attended the University of Western Ontario earning his Bachelor of Arts and his Medical degree.  While at Western he played for the Western Mustang football team, starting on the 1959 Canadian College National Championship team and captaining the team in 1962.  He completed his General Surgery training in London, ON.
In 1970 he set up his practice in Peterborough, ON at the Peterborough Medical Center. Working at both St. Joseph's Hospital and Civic Hospital he served on the St. Joseph's Board of Directors. In 1984 he immigrated to Shelby, OH where he practiced at Mansfield Hospital and Peoples Hospital in Mansfield retiring in 2006. While in Mansfield, he served as President of Richland County Medical Society.  Throughout his career, he strongly believed in giving back to the community. He always ensured that patients received care whether they could afford to pay him or not. In addition to this, he was actively involved in the United Way.
He was an avid and skilled sailor starting as a teenager when he crafted a sailboat from scrap lumber that he sailed on the Detroit River. From these humble beginnings he later sailed his treasured sailboat "Pygmalion" at the Sandusky Yacht Club, in Sandusky Ohio from Lake Erie to the North Chanel at the tip of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay.  He was a dedicated member of the Power Squadrons of Canada and the USA, raising to the rank of Commander in both Peterborough and Mansfield.  As part of Power Squadrons he volunteered many hours teaching courses and passing along his extensive nautical knowledge.
Sailing was not his only sporting passion. He was an avid downhill skier throughout his adult life and relished being able to ski for free once he turned 70 at the Snow Trails Ski Club. One of his favorite vacations was taking the family out to the Rocky, Appalachian and Laurentian Mountains. For many years he was an active canoe tripper with his friends and family. A highlight was an annual trip down the Dumoine River in Quebec.
In Peterborough he played hockey for a team of doctors affectionately known as the Quacks. He also served as the team doctor to the Peterborough Petes from 1971 until 1983 when they were a dynasty of Jr. A hockey in Canada.
 In recent years he became avid bicyclist enjoying bike vacations across North America and Europe. He also enjoyed other eclectic interests including genealogy, ham radio operation, Elks Lodge Membership and frequent political banter, much to the chagrin of his fellow conversationalists.
Ultimately he was a family man and an exceptional physician that was extraordinarily dedicated to his children and patients. He married his high school sweetheart, Susan, and together they raised four children who he was extremely proud of. 
He is preceded in death by his parents Hester Louise Clark and James Edward Clark. He is survived by his four siblings and his four children and their spouses and nine grandchildren whom he adored. His sisters Jeanne Hodges of Windsor, ON and Ruth and (George) Wortley of Amherstburg, ON and his brothers Morgan of Windsor, ON and Roger and (Merrilyn) of Lakefield, ON.  His Children Jamie and (Kelly,) of Atlanta, GA, Carolyn and (Ian) Strath, of Barrie ON, Col. (USMC) Ian and (Kelly) of San Diego, CA and Heather and (John) Helinski of Hebron, KY and  grandchildren Taylor, Larissa, Ted, Trevor, Allison, Cali,  Noelle, Emma and Braden. 

A Celebration of Life will be held at 3:00 PM Saturday July 23, 2016 at the Barkdull Funeral Home in Shelby, OH. Rev David Sipes will officiate and friends may call at the funeral home from 1:00 - 3:00.

Visitation will also be Sunday, July 24, 2016 from 4:00 - 6:00 and the funeral will be 1:00 on Monday, July 25, 2016 at the Walter D. Kelly Celebration of Life Centre, 1969 Wyandotte Street East, Windsor, ON. Burial will follow in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens in Oldcastle, ON. A reception will be held at the Windsor Yacht Club following services.
In lieu of flowers, donations would be greatly appreciated by the family to go to the following charitable camping organizations which financially assist families to send children to camp.  Canada:  Kids in Camp; www.kidsincamp.com; and United States:  Send a Kid to Camp Fund; http://www.acacamps.org; Contact Andrea Stearley; 765-349-3305. Calling will ensure that it will be made in memory of Dr. Richard Clark.

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