Joseph Adair Porter Clark

Joe’s greatest and happiest achievement was his family. He married the love of his life, Patricia Grant, and together they shared 66 years of joy and love. They created a family that came to include Joseph F. Clark (Deborah), Tom (Jane), and Carolyn (Gary Rabbior). Over time he and Pat were surrounded and delighted by their grandchildren, Atlee, Jillian, Kristin, Alex, Caileigh, Joe (V), Clark and Emma. He is survived by sisters, Pat Fryer of Kitchener, Cynthia Steers of Ottawa and Susan Gordon of Toronto. He was the son of the late Joseph W.G. and Hazel Clark.

Joe was born in Toronto on November 2, 1921 and lived in Toronto, King Township and finally Aurora. Growing up, Joe attended University of Toronto Schools (UTS) of which he had most happy memories. Although he never considered himself a star athlete, he loved hockey and made the school’s senior team. He also played on the football team which was thankfully cut short after being knocked out cold in a game against Saint Andrews College.

Joe grew up in the shadow of The Great War and the injustices of The Great Depression. Both shaped his life and beliefs. His father, J.W.G. Clark, DFC, and his uncle, Gregory Clark, MC, fought together at Vimy Ridge. Their actions, and the chronicling of that era by their father, J.T. Clark, the editor-in-chief of the Toronto Star, instilled in Joe a love and duty to country. That would call to him in 1940, when he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve. Starting as a sub-lieutenant, he served as gunnery officer aboard the corvette HMCS Arrowhead, and later aboard the frigate HMCS Loch Achanault in a hunter killer group. He finished his war as a Lieutenant-Commander.

In peacetime, Joe saw injustice and did something about it. He dedicated himself to creating rights and opportunities for the disabled and disadvantaged, serving in a number of organizations including, among others: president, March of Dimes; president; Canadian Council for the Disabled; president; Toronto Rehabilitation Centre; director, United Nations Association; director, Canadian Foundation for Economic Education; director, Toronto Community Foundation; and chairman, Hospice King. Joe served government as chair of the Advisory Committee on Vocational Rehabilitation to the Ontario Minister of Community and Social Services and politics as a vice-chair of the Ontario Federal Liberal Campaign Committee where he enjoyed the camaraderie of his colleagues on Cell 13. Joe saw the need to lift up the respect often denied to the nursing profession and advocated for change. He served his country by helping to modernize the Canadian Armed Forces. He was passionate about the public political debate.

In professional life, Joe was an outstanding writer and communicator. He worked for Massey Harris, started his own PR firm, Tisdall Clark and finished his business career as President and CEO of Canada NewsWire (CNW).

In addition to the joys and challenges of being a wonderful husband, father and grandfather, Joe was passionate about cottage life at Go Home Bay, instilling the same passion in Pat and his children. He loved Go Home, tinkering with his boats, fixing the many cottage ailments, fishing for the ‘monster bass’ and enjoying the friendship of fellow cottagers including: Bob and Barb Harris; John and Mary Duncanson; Adam and Janet Zimmerman; Ron and Diana MacFeeters; David and Mary Copp; David and Carol Wishart; Bruno and Jean Skoggard; Terry and Judy Sheard; and, so many others. Joe also loved fly-fishing and tall tales at the Caledon Mountain Trout Club and particularly enjoyed the company of his friend and cousin Greg Clark Jr.

Joe was a true Canadian. He lived a great life. He accepted, reluctantly, the final order to Stand Down.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Sunnybrook Foundation at the Dorothy Macham Home or Hospice King Aurora (www.hospicekingaurora.ca) would be appreciated.