Anderson Clark

Anderson Dean Clark died on January 15, 2008 at his home in Shepherdstown in the loving care of his wife, Jan Offutt. Dr. Clark was born on October 1, 1929 and grew up in Lewistown, PA. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ethel and John Clark, and his older brother, Robert, his college sweetheart Julia Breen Clark whom he shared his life with for 52 years and their son, Bill. He is survived by his daughter, Holland Schrank, her husband, Gary, their children, Nicholas and Scott from Phoenix, AZ, and his present wife, Jan Offutt, and his step sons Morgan and Alex Haye. Educated at Maryville College in Maryville, TN and at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, IL, Dr. Clark had a long and distinguished career as a Presbyterian minister, college dean, education consultant, and entrepreneurial public servant. He organized Covenant Presbyterian Church in Madison, WI, became Senior Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Beloit, WI, and was awarded the Doctor of Divinity degree in 1962. He was Dean of the Chapel and Professor of Religion and Ethics at Beloit College, WI, in the 60's. In 1965, Dr. Clark was one of the creators of Affiliate Artists Inc. at Beloit College. The program went on to be a national performing arts program for over 25 years to help young artists develop and launch their professional careers in the performing arts. Dr. Clark next turned his attention to his passions for education and literacy by putting into practice his interests in ethical entrepreneurship. He worked as a Senior Consultant to Capital Cities/ABC-TV Communications for 13 years. His major projects included Project Literacy U.S. (PLUS), creator of Rex and Rita Saurus, literacy puppets, conceived the "Great American READ-ALOUD Day" which featured elementary schools. He was an organizing member of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy program. As Vice-President of the Business Alliance for Vietnamese Education, Dr. Clark worked with leading U.S. corporations to underwrite the design of Viet Nam's K-12 curriculum. He later began to work in the development of new technologies that benefited humanitarian ideals. He was instrumental in marketing the "Vaxicool" for EST (Energy Storage Technologies Inc.). He also served on the board of Wired International, a humanitarian organization that provides healthcare information and education to doctors and grass roots communities in developing countries around the world. In addition, he was on the board of Madagascar World Voice, a short wave radio station being built to broadcast the message of Christianity around the world. He regularly contributed articles to the Shepherdstown Chronicle to the delight of the local community. And his lifelong love of "yardening," (his term for gardening!), was truly a source of joy. His memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 26 at 1:00PM at the Shepherdstown Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of the Panhandle, 122 Waverly Court, Martinsburg, WV 25403.