William Clark

Proud of his Dorchester roots, originally from Upham’s Corner, he’d joke that he “grew up too poor to go window shopping”. He was the youngest of seven children, and spent his formative years raised by his tough Irish mother after his father’s untimely passing. Bill was a brother to Rear Admiral Charles and Helen Clark, Ann Marie Gogan, Thomas (deceased) and Patricia Clark, John and the late Linda Clark, Patricia and Richard Trainor, and Winifred Wesner Clark.

With hard work and long hours as a Sheet Metal Worker in Local 17, and nights at Gino’s corner store in Dorchester, he achieved a rich livelihood and raised his family in Scituate. They chose this seaside community, despite not being beach people, and never looked back.

Bill loved to host pool parties for family and friends. He was the lovable “Uncle Bill”, flipping burgers on the grill. Gentle, caring, and loveable until a deck of cards was dealt, then he was as ruthless as they come, unmatched in his favorite game, Whist, and pairing with his brother Tom to make short work of reluctant competition.

A tremendously generous man, he welcomed all the neighbors with open arms, lending a helping hand in his younger years, and advice in his older years, whether solicited or not, and always with a great sense of warmth and humor. He was the big loveable Santa Claus to nieces and nephews, friends and his children.

Bill was a simple guy in many ways, he’d find a shirt that he liked, and he wore it every day until it fell apart. His favorite stores were Building 19, and Ocean State Job Lots. The Big and Tall was considered high fashion. And yet for a man from a meager start, and limited schooling, he was smart as a whip. Whitty, intelligent, and knowledgeable. A killer at trivia, a master handyman, and self-taught expert in geography and world history. He could even stump a museum curator on his esoteric knowledge. Once on a tour of the Hillwood Estate in Washington DC, he casually pointed out the insignia of the Russian Romanov family on an arm chair to a museum worker. The chief historian was called in to fact check the claim, but Bill was right.

More than anything he’ll be remembered as a caring husband to his incredible wife, Mary, and father to his beloved children Mary Coffey of Ohio and Michael Clark of Washington DC. He lit up at the opportunity to Facetime with his grandchildren, Johnny, Liam, Maeve, and watch their accomplishments in school and sports. More recently he cherished every opportunity to bring out a smile in his one-year-old grandson Louis with a boastful “LOU-EE baby”.

In recent years, he fought to regain mobility after years of arthritis and a fall. Looking to restore some quality of life, and not wanting to be a burden on the family, he opted for a knee replacement surgery, but sadly the complications from the procedure proved too much for his body and he left us too soon.

A man for others.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday October 16, 2024 from 3-7pm at Richardson-Gaffey Funeral Home, 382 First Parish Road, Scituate. A Funeral will take place on Thursday October 17, 2024 10am from St. Mary of the Nativity Church, 1 Kent Street, Scituate. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend.