Robert Clark
1943 ~ 2012
Jan 10, 2013 | 701 views | 0 0 comments | 3 3 recommendations | email to a friend | print
On Sunday, Dec. 23, Robert “Bob” Neville Clark caught the big wave, and he rode it all the way. Bob was born April 13, 1943, in Pensacola, Fla., to Melba and Capt. Sam Clark. He traveled around the world with his U.S. Navy family, and made friends and collected stories in every place he landed along the way. 

He graduated from high school in Beeville, Texas, in 1961, and felt a close connection to his classmates from his graduating class, and those friendships have spanned his lifetime. After several years of college, he served in the United States Marine Corps. He was assigned to an F4 Phantom squadron in Danang, Vietnam, during 1965. He was an ordnance specialist as well as the unit’s armourer.

  When he returned home, he resided in California, where he met and married Karen Frutiger and they had one daughter, Jennifer. In 1975, they moved to Evergreen, Colo., where Bob began a long career as a wholesale car dealer. After his divorce in 1978, Bob bounced between California and Colorado, and finally moved to Half Moon Bay, Calif., permanently in 1992. Bob opened a restaurant with his friend Corky, called the Blue Pacific BBQ and married Judy Meyer in 1996.

In 1997, he began a long stretch as the manager of the Harbor View Inn. This career indulged his love of meeting and talking with people, especially surfers, and he stayed until he retired in 2009. He also loved working at Maverick’s Surf Shop, and owners Jeff and Cassandra Clark were very much like family and saved his life in 2009 when he suffered a serious health incident. Shortly after his retirement, he moved to Moab, Utah, to be near his daughter and granddaughter. He became a popular fixture in the Moab community, where he volunteered as the Farmers’ Market manager and enjoyed chatting with people at the Bark Park with his dog, Mr. McNally.

Bob was preceded in death by his mother and father, and his brother, Samuel Clark. He is survived by his daughter and granddaughter, Jennifer and Jaimin Sadoff.

  His numerous friends meant the world to him, and helped to fill the last few years of his declining health with love and joy. Thank you to each and every one of you. If you wish to do something to honor Bob’s life, please consider a donation to AmpSurf, a non-profit organization that helps wounded veterans heal by teaching them to surf at: PO 5045/ San Luis Obispo, CA 93403 or donate online at www.ampsurf.org.
Share This Article |
similar stories

Arleen Tanner Ruggeri 1921 ~ 2013 | 13 days ago

Violet Thurman 1925 ~ 2013 | 6 days ago

Memorial David Lysle Everist 1948 ~ 2012 | 27 days ago

Edgar Henderson 1925 ~ 2013 | 6 days ago

Moab area named Silver level Bicycle Friendly Community | 6 days ago by Laura Haley≤br≥≤i≥Contributing Writer≤/i≥

report abuse...

Express yourself:

We're glad to give readers a forum to express their points of view on issues important to this community. That forum is the “Letters to the Editor.” Letters to the editor may be submitted directly to The Times-Independent through this link and will be published in the print edition of the newspaper. All letters must be the original work of the letter writer – form letters will not be accepted. All letters must include the actual first and last name of the letter writer, the writer’s address, city and state and telephone number. Anonymous letters will not be accepted.

Letters may not exceed 400 words in length, must be regarding issues of general interest to the community, and may not include personal attacks, offensive language, ethnic or racial slurs, or attacks on personal or religious beliefs. Letters should focus on a single issue. Letters that proselytize or focus on theological debates will not be published. During political campaigns, The Times-Independent will not publish letters supporting or opposing any local candidate. Thank you letters are generally not accepted for publication unless the letter has a public purpose. Thank you letters dealing with private matters that compliment or complain about a business or individual will not be published. Nor will letters listing the names of individuals and/or businesses that supported a cause or event. Thank you letters about good Samaritan acts will be considered at the discretion of the newspaper.