Malcolm R. Clark Jr.

Malcolm (Mike) was born in Bronxville, NY, on July 10, 1933 to the late Malcolm Ross and Ruth Reed Clark. He grew up in White Plains and Chappaqua, NY, and then joined the US Navy, serving as a gunner in a TBM Avenger on the Kula Gulf carrier during the Korean War. When his father became ill, Mike left the Navy and assisted with the family hardware store in Milford, CT. He also became an active volunteer firefighter, and later served as Captain of Volunteer Engine Company No 6. It was then that he met and married Judy, his wife of 61 years.

Demonstrating love and commitment to his young family, Mike built their first home in South Salem, NY. His carpentry skills were again utilized when they moved to Milford, CT, in 1967. Home improvement projects spanned the next 20 years. Later he helped renovate the homes of his daughter and sons. He built stage sets at his churches, and homes with Habitat for Humanity.  He crafted bird houses and bird feeders, children’s playhouses and wagons of wooden blocks and loved playing on the floor with his grandchildren.

Mike was hired by the Milford Fire Department where he was honored to serve for 18 years. He became one of the department’s first EMT​s. When off-duty from the fire department, he worked at Milford Boat Works, loved sailing on Long Island Sound, and camping​. After retirement he and Judy traveled across the country several times camping in​ 47 states. Travel highlights included trips to Israel with their church, Hawaii, Switzerland, Austria, bareboat sailing in the British Virgin Islands, and five months driving from Florida to and around Alaska.  

Mike was a Deacon at First Congregational Church in Milford, CT. After he and Judy moved to Florida in 1987, he was a trustee for First United Methodist Church, Spring Hill. Later he and Judy participated in adult Sunday school classes, Bible studies, and he was again a trustee at Mariner United Methodist Church in Brooksville, FL.

Words friends have used to describe him include kind, compassionate, generous, gentle yet strong, sincere, and hardworking. He left all he met, and places he visited, better off than when he arrived. He was always an honorable man in the old-fashioned sense, one with a never-ending smile.

Malcolm is survived by his wife Judith, daughter Susan (Charles) Dowd of Fair Haven, NJ, and granddaughter Bridget Dowd (Samuel) Kiernan of New York City, son Curtis (Kristin) Clark, grandson Quinlin Clark and granddaughter Fiona Clark, of Spring Hill, FL. Mike is predeceased by his son David Clark and survived by granddaughter Kayla Clark of Sierra Vista, AZ. Also survived by sister Josephine (Ted) Boynton of Milford, CT, nephews Bruce and John Barrett, sister Patricia (Michael) Sena of Neptune Beach, FL, nephews John and William Sena as well as nephew Scott Norwood and niece Deborah Vargovchik, children of his predeceased sister Roberta Welkin.

​​To protect loved ones and friends from the Covid-19 pandemic, there will be no memorial service. In lieu of customary remembrances, Mike’s family asks that favorite memories and stories about Mike be emailed to [email protected]​ ​ Contributions in his memory may be made to Cure Alzheimer's Fund, curealz.org

ARRANGEMENTS BY

MERRITT FUNERAL HOME

SPRING HILL, FLORIDA

(352) 686-6649

"Family Owned & Operated"

www.merrittfuneral.com