We were saddened to learn of the death of James A. Clark, Jr., a member of the St. Andrew’s Society since 1957. The following obituary was carried in the Times-Union newspaper.
James A. Clark Jr., son of the late James A. Clark, and Dolores Sanderson Clark passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, June 18, 2013. Born on August 14, 1931, Jim attended School 16, the Milne School and graduated from Amherst College, class of 1953 where he recently attended his 60th class reunion. At Amherst, he was a member of the Psi Upsilon fraternity and was the senior class marshall. After graduating from Amherst, Jim was commissioned by the Officers Candidate School in Newport, R.I. as a Lt. j.g. in the United States Navy from which he was honorably discharged. Jim was a gifted musician. He was proud of his association with the Amherst College Delta 5. He later organized and played in the Capital Region with the Will Clark Trio, the Jazz Cellar Six, and finally with the Jazz Cellar Six +1. They were popular entertainers in Albany during the 60’s and 70’s. He was a member of the Musicians Local #14. A life-long car enthusiast, he served for over 50 years as the executive vice president of Armory Automotive. He considered his customers his friends, loved appraising cars and enjoyed his morning walks through the dealership greeting the employees. He never missed a Thursday auction at Northway Auto Exchange and more recently the Monday auctions at Armory. Jim loved his lunches at the Gateway diner with Bob Metzner and valued his partnership and friendship with Stanley and Donald Metzner and the late Anthony Metzner. He owned stock cars, classic automobiles and harness horses. He loved to play cards with his nieces, his grandchildren and his friends. He was a director of the Central Savings and Loan Association. Jim was president of the St. Peter’s Hospital Foundation, a member of the Maria College Board of Trustees, the LaSalle School for Boys, and The Evangelist. He was a former president and trustee of the Fort Orange Club, a member of the Wolferts Roost Country Club, the Berlin Mountain Fish & Game Club, the Dorset Field Club and was a former member of the University Club. He was a communicant of St. Pius X parish for over 43 years. In 1966, Jim married the former Rhea Ellen Picotte and together they had four children, Kathleen (Kacy), James III, Elizabeth (Betsy) and Jeffrey. In addition to his loving and devoted wife and children, Jim is survived by his two daughters-in-law, Grace and Ann; his nine grandchildren, Clark and Henry McNaull, Grace, James A. IV and Kathleen Clark, James and Kieran O’Haire and Hudson and Sage Clark; his sister, Joan C. Walsh and her daughters, Lisa, Wendy (Tom) Meyer, and Nancy (Arthur) Splaine; his brothers-in-law, John (Maggie) and Michael (Margi) Picotte; his sister-in-law, Marcia (Fred) Floyd along with many nieces, nephews and a host of wonderful friends. Jim was predeceased by his brother-in-law and friend, Jack Walsh. The family would like to thank all the doctors and nurses who cared for Pop over the course of his illness. A Mass of Christian Burial was Celebrated at St. Pius X Catholic Church, Loudonville. Interment followed in St. Agnes Cemetery, Menands.