Donald W. Clark, M.D., recently a resident of The Seasons at Summercrest, Newport, NH , formerly of King Hill Road, New London, passed away in his sleep on September 27, 2022 after 93 years of vibrant living.
Donald was born in Salem, MA on March 20, 1929, the son of Frederic P. and Madeline N. (MacDonald) Clark. He graduated from Swampscott, MA High School in 1947 and received an A.B. Cum Laude from Dartmouth College in 1951. He went to Dartmouth Medical School and received a M.D. from Harvard Medical School in 1954. Don did his internship at Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital in 1955 and served his residency at Dartmouth-Hitchcock-VA Hospital in Internal Medicine from 1955-1958. He was certified on the American Board of Internal Medicine in 1962. Don was a self-employed physician in New London from 1960-1996.
He served as a LT (MC) USNR from 1958-1960. He was a member of the New London Hospital Medical Staff, the Dartmouth Coop Project, the NH Medical Society, the Merrimack County Medical Society, the American Society of Internal Medicine, the NH Society of Internal Medicine, the American College of Physicians, Heidelberg Lodge #92 I.O.O.F. in New London, the NH Council on World Affairs and the American Medical Association.
Don had a lifelong love of music. At the age of 8 he started taking piano lessons in Swampscott, MA and he played the piano with joy and enthusiasm right up until a few weeks before his passing. He played the alto horn in high school. Don sang in choral groups beginning at Dartmouth College, where he was a member of his fraternity’s choral group (Phi Sigma Kappa). He also sang with The Area Choir, the Kearsarge Chorale, a men’s group called the Saturday Singers, and the choir at the First Baptist Church of New London where he was a church member.
Don enjoyed skiing (especially trips to Lech, Austria with wife Pat), hiking, sailing (particularly in Sailfish Regattas on Little Lake Sunapee in the 1960s), water skiing, golf, birdwatching, white water rafting, studying flora and fauna in New Hampshire woods, and playing bridge. He had a curious mind and thoroughly enjoyed his involvement with the Poetry Posse and Adventures in Learning at Colby-Sawyer College in New London. He and wife Pat studied Rumi extensively and taught a class on the 13th century poet. The books he read always had notes in the margins and sections of text underlined. Learning was a lifelong pursuit for Don. Sadly, Covid-19 curtailed most of his activities, contributing to the onset of dementia.
Don was loved by family and friends. He was admired and respected by colleagues.
The family is grateful for the care he received in his later years from Susan Fortier at his home and from the staff of The Seasons at Summercrest in Newport, NH.
Don was predeceased by the mothers of his children, ex-wives Pearl (Clark) Rich and Emily (Edmunds) Clark. His wife, Iris Patricia (Wirta) Clark, died in 2017. He is survived by four daughters: Holly E. Clark of Rochester, NH; Leslie M. Clark of Wilkinsburg, PA; Linda A. (Clark) Lamell (and husband Randy) of Middlesex, VT; Jennifer E. (Clark) Zamansky (and husband David) of Newbury, NH; and two sons, David S. Clark (and wife Kathy) of Wayland, MA and Donald W. Clark, Jr. (and wife Hannah) of Kittery, ME. He leaves nine grandchildren: Amanda McLaughlin (and husband Michael); Drew Peterson; Tyler Clark; Austin Clark; Jake Zamansky; Leah Zamansky; Blue Clark; Liberty Clark; and Noble Clark. He had two great grandchildren: Jordan Maire and Maisie McLaughlin. He also leaves two stepdaughters, Teresa Hosmer of Sutton, NH and Dayle Finn (and husband David) of Lady Lake, FL ; two step-granddaughters: Gretchen Finn and Heather Carleton; step-great-grandchildren: Cody Gibbs, Brie Mobus, and JR Carleton; a brother, James N. Clark (and longtime partner Marsha Slayton) of Mashpee, MA; a sister, Elizabeth A. Bixby (and husband Ben) of Kingston, NH; nieces Barbara Bixby Johns and Keri Nixon, nephews Bill Bixby, Bill Clark, Rob Nixon, and Chip Nixon; and cousins.
A memorial service will be held at The First Baptist Church, 461 Main Street, New London, NH. on Saturday, November 19 beginning at 1 p.m. Burial will be in West Part Cemetery, New London, NH.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Dr. Donald W. and Iris Patricia Clark Memorial Scholarship, The First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 336, New London, NH 03257.
SERVICES
Memorial Service
Saturday, November 19, 2022 1:00 PM The First Baptist Church 461 Main Street New London, NH 03257