|  Stephen Michael Clark, died peacefully in his home with his family at his side on Nov. 25, 2015, in Anacortes. He was 68.
Steve was born on Sept., 23, 1947, in Evansville, Indiana, to June and Joseph Clark. During his youth, he lived in New Jersey, Delaware and Virginia and spent many summers on his uncles’ farms in Johnson, Indiana. Steve lived in San Francisco and Homer, Alaska, before meeting his wife Janet and making Anacortes his home for more than 32 years.
Steve graduated from Pembroke State University in North Carolina and received a Master of Arts degree from Western Washington University. Steve was a teacher at Mount Vernon High School for 28 years. He coached debate, led students on back-country hiking trips and taught freshmen Honors English, Speech and Advanced Placement English. Steve loved teaching the classics to young minds and enjoyed seeing his students step into the world to pursue their education and their dreams, but most importantly, he loved helping students realize their unique potential.
Steve dedicated much of his free time to outdoor pursuits. Whether kayaking the San Juans, hiking the North Cascades or working in the garden with Janet, Steve found both inspiration and spiritual reflection out of doors. His love of nature was also reflected in his conservational efforts with the nonprofit Evergreen Islands.
Steve was an inveterate reader, writer and traveler. His life-long appreciation for literature often guided his and Janet’s travels together: England through the words of Dickens and Virginia Woolf, Spain and perhaps Kilimanjaro via the exploits and words of “Big Papa.” Intrigued by living in other cultures, Steve was awarded two year-long Fulbright grants, teaching in both Istanbul, Turkey, and Brno, Czech Republic. Steve is survived by his wife, Janet, his children, Kate Clark (San Diego) and Jesse Davis (Olympia), daughter‑in‑law Molly Voris and granddaughters Lily, Rose and Louisa Davis. He also leaves behind his siblings Jim Clark (Milton, DE), Nancy Drake (Ojai, CA) and Tom Clark (Great Falls, VA) as well as an extended family of relatives and dear friends across the country and throughout the world.
In lieu of flowers or other remembrances, the family requests donations to Evergreen Islands conservation group, P.O. Box 223, Anacortes WA 98221. |
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