Bruce David Clarke

He grew up in Pawtucket, Rhode Island where he attended Shea High School. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree at University of Rhode Island in Kingston, RI and his Master’s degree at Bridgewater State University in Bridgewater, MA.

Throughout his life, Bruce was very active in a variety of sports including baseball, basketball, football, and golf. He was an exceptional baseball pitcher who was drafted by the Washington Senators in the 1968 Major League Baseball Draft. At this moment of pride, he was also offered a full scholarship to University of Rhode Island, where he chose to pursue his degree and continued playing for the Rams until 1972.

Following graduation, he proudly served his country as a Staff Sergeant in the National Guard. He then began his career in education, teaching Health Education in the Fall River Public Schools, Fall River, MA. He was Director of Futures Dropout Prevention Program and Coordinator of the Comprehensive Health Grant at Durfee. He served as Principal at Talbot Middle School and as Interim Principal at Durfee High School before being appointed as Principal at Old Rochester Regional High School in Mattapoisett, MA. He was a respected and admired school administrator and he was most proud of his role as Principal.

During the course of his career, he coached football and baseball at Durfee High School, as well as coaching the youth teams for both of his sons. He enjoyed a lifelong love of golf and was an active member of Allendale Country Club in Dartmouth, MA.

Bruce was interested in history and genealogy. In retirement, he was proud of researching his family’s British roots back seven generations.

His family includes his wife Marylou, of 50 years; his son James, his wife Aryn and their daughters Jillian, Ayla, and Emma of Charlton, MA; his son, Gregory, his wife, Emily and their children Keira and Calvin, of Cumberland, Maine. In addition he leaves his brother, Wayne, his wife, Carol and their children Shawn, Lisa and their children, Sara, William, and Matthew of Rhode Island.

The family extends gratitude to the staff at St. Luke’s Hospital and Southcoast Hospice for their dedicated care.

Bruce often commented that while he recently faced cancer, he felt compassion for children dealing with their diagnosis early in life. Donations to celebrate his life can be made to www.JimmyFund.org or Southcoast Visiting Nurse Association, 200 Mill Road, Fairhaven, MA 02917.

There will be a brief Funeral Service on Sunday, March 3, 2024, beginning at 1:30PM in the Waring-Sullivan Home at Dartmouth, 230 Russells Mills Road, Dartmouth, followed by Visiting Hours from 2 to 5 PM. A Private burial will take place at Swan Point Cemetery, Providence, Rhode Island.

To send a tribute or for directions please visit: www.waring-sullivan.com