Ann Atkins Clark
May 30, 1926 ~ June 2, 2024
Born in:
Indianapolis, IN
Resided in:
North Branford, CT
Ann Paxton Atkins Clark passed away on Sunday, June 2, 2024.
Born on May 30, 1926, in Indianapolis, Indiana to Elias Cornnelius Atkins and Katharine Watson Atkins. Ann graduated from the Orchard School and attended Tudor Hall before graduating from the Masters School (Class of ’44) in Dobbs Ferry, NY and Vassar College (Class of ’47). Ann continued to support many of these institutions throughout her life by serving on the Board of Trustees at both Foote School and the Masters School. In 2023, she was awarded the Eliza B. Masters Award for long time service to the Masters School.
In 1947 Ann married Elias Clark, and they moved to New York City where she was a model for John Robert Power. In 1949, they moved to New Haven, Connecticut when Eli was appointed to the Yale Law School Faculty. In 1962, Eli Clark was appointed Master of Silliman College. Annie was an equal partner, a supreme hostess, counselor and mother to countless Silliman students and her own family of seven.
In 1972, Ann started working at the Foote School. She started as a library aide but moved to a full-time physical education teacher, a position she held until 1992. As a teacher, Ann combined her two loves of children and sports. She loved teaching and said her greatest joy as a teacher was “to recognize students’ strengths and weaknesses, and to support both.”
After retirement Ann enjoyed her house in Vermont. She was often found on the tennis court as she was an avid tennis player (and often champion) from the time she was a child until the age of 85. She loved traveling the US and the world to see friends and her children. In 2012, she moved to Evergreen Woods where she reunited with many old friends, as well as meeting new ones. She embedded herself in the EW life (and loved the staff) where she was on the Scholarship Committee, Welcoming Committee and Library Committee.
Ann was predeceased by her husband of 64 years, Elias Clark, and is survived by her children Charles E. Clark (Karen), Katharine Jensen (Ron), Susan Love (Andrew), Robert T. Clark (June), Dorothy Chadwick (Terry), Annie Clark (Dave Thomas), and William R. Clark (Jennifer), bonus son Mark Lynch (Gail); 13 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, September 7th at 10:00 AM at Trinity on the Green Episcopal Church, 230 Temple Street, New Haven, Connecticut. A reception will follow.
Ann was a generous contributor to many charities. Contributions can be made to your favorite charity in Annie’s memory or gifts can be directed to Horizons at the Foote School, a program that provides free academic & enrichment opportunities to New Haven public school students. Online gifts can be made through their website at horizonsatfoote.org. Checks can be made out to “Horizons at the Foote School” and mailed to:
Horizons at Foote
ATTN: Christina MacLean
50 Loomis Place
New Haven, CT 06511.
Beecher & Bennett Funeral Home, 2300 Whitney Avenue, Hamden is in care of arrangements.
Services
Memorial Service: September 7, 2024 10:00 am
Trinity Church on the Green
230 Temple Street
New Haven, CT 06511
203-624-3101
Sending my condolences to the Clark family (special note to Charlie and Karen) along with many happy memories of “Mrs. Clark” (as I called her). Yes, she was a legend and “what a woman”! I am lucky to have known her and her husband Eli (“Mr. Clark”). She will be missed and remembered by so many! Go forth and be kind in her honor.
Sorry to just hear this – no response to my email, caused me to look. Annie touched my world much longer than our friendship, as she was my mom’s good friend…and later became my mom’s protector as my mother fell further into dementia. At this time, Annie really came into my view…I just loved her, and her kindness to “Spi”, her protectiveness without diminishing the spark, the fierceness – that was my mom – and her own spark and humor as we corresponded long after my mother’s passing. She was lovely, feisty and I just really grew to love her through these simple correspondences…and even in this simple way, she will be missed. Rest in peace Annie, in that Unitarian heaven – however you held it 🙂