Bartlett Lee Clark of Clarkston will be remembered for his local leadership and service to the nation and his hometown.
“Bart struck me as one of the most genuinely good guys I have ever known,” said David Boersma, president of Clarkston Rotary Club. “Bart was the president of the club when I became a member in 2009. The first thing about Bart is he always greeted you with a smile. The second thing about Bart is he was a leader who never let efforts go unnoticed.”
Clark, the great, great, great grandson of Jeremiah Clark, one of the two Clark brothers from whom Clarkston takes its name, passed away unexpectedly on Sept. 5, 2016, at the age of 71. He was born on Dec. 9, 1944.
Bart lived a full and exciting life, say all his family and friends. He served in the U.S. Navy for 26 years in the nuclear submarine force. The pinnacle of Bart’s naval career was his tour of duty as the commander of the nuclear submarine USS Omaha (SSN-692). After the Omaha, Bart served as the commander of two naval shores activities. His final navy tour was as the Professor of Naval Science at the University of Michigan.
“Bart was a man of the highest integrity who served his country, his community and many organizations in between with competence and good spirit,” said Rick Miller, Clarkston Rotarian. “He served in the U.S. Navy as Captain of a nuclear submarine. That evidence of discipline, character and dedication to task was apparent in most everything he did. His grounded intelligence and basic logic made him a natural leader.”
Following his navy career, Bart worked for the Ford Motor Company for 11 years. He and Diane retired to Clarkston in 2005.
“I think I first met Bart Clark about five or six years ago when we both were involved with the Clarkston Center for the Performing Arts as a new group that combined the efforts and desires of the Clarkston Conservatory of Music and the Clarkston Village Players to see if a small performing arts center could be built in the Village of Clarkston,” said Cory Johnston of Clarkston.
Bart was the board president and frequent presenter on the project while Johnston was an advisor, he said.
“Formal plans were created under Bart’s watch but unfortunately the downturn in the economy made it difficult to raise the needed funding to continue at that time,” Johnston said. “The organization still exists and much of the initial work has been picked up by the Clarkston Cultural Arts Council which continues to work with the Conservatory, Village Players and other artistic organizations in the area.”
Bart was also a frequent walker in the city, Johnston said.
“That gave us a common goal of making the village and surrounding area more walkable,” he said. “His family’s very generous contribution to help replace the bridge at the south end of Depot Park was a testament to how important this was to him.”
He was man of good humor and just an all-around good guy to be with.
“Bart cared deeply about this community, and dedicated his energy to serving it in any way that he could,” said Tom Stone of Clarkston. “Clarkston was a great source of pride and heritage to him.”
Bart was active in local politics, serving as the superintendent of Independence Township, and very active in local community groups, committees, and projects, especially the Clarkston Rotary Club, with which he served two terms as president.
“Bart was a wonderful Rotarian,” said Mary Sloan. “He enjoyed and participated fully in all the events, whether as president or Sergeant-at-Arms.He took his jobs very seriously as he planned the club’s Mystery Night, chaired the club’s 75th birthday celebration with free food for the community at Concerts in the Park, co-chaired the annual wine party fund raiser, and drove the clown car in the club’s Labor Day parade.”
“Bart and his wife Diane always dressed as clowns for the Labor Day parade – and Bart would squeeze into the little clown car as well,” Boersma said. “If I have one visual I can remember, it would be the parade. Or perhaps it’s because I missed him so much in this year’s parade?”
Bart could always be counted on to chair or serve on any committee where needed, Sloan said.
“They frequently hosted gatherings for Rotarians at their home. He was proud of his community and liked to do things that would improve the Clarkston community, whether those were Rotary projects or working with other civic organizations,” Sloan added. “He truly exemplified Rotary’s motto, ‘Service Above Self.’ He will be sorely missed by all the many lives he touched as a civic leader.”
“That first meeting I attended, he had a pen for the person that could answer a Rotary trivia question. I soon learned that became a trademark of his leadership in the club, a leader who rewarded everyone’s efforts,” Boersma said. “Bart rewarded those around him with kind words, compliments and comradery. A few years later, Bart served as president of the club a second time and showed his confidence in me by asking me to be Sargent at Arms for the club and later on president elect. I am proud to have shared Rotary with him and to call him my friend.”
Bart was a born leader that people wanted to follow, said Rotarian Bradley Evans.
“He was always organized, and left no detail to chance,” Evans said. “When I was a new Rotarian, Bart had run our Fall Wine Tasting. He asked me to take over and chair the event. He empowered me to have ownership over the success, or failure of this key fundraiser for our club. Without Bart I would never have gained the confidence to lead, and he was not going to allow me to fail.”
Bart will be missed by everyone, Evans added.
“The Clark family has lost a husband, father, and grandfather,” he said. “The Clarkston Community lost a selfless civil servant. The Clarkston Rotary has lost a Past President, and trusted member. I have lost a mentor, and a friend.”
Bart was the husband of Diane for 34 wonderful years; loving father of Benjamin (Kristie); grandfather of Samantha, Cassidy and Bartlett Lee Clark II. He was preceded in death by his parents Milton and Doris and his brothers Milton and Jeffrey.
Visitation was Sept. 8 at the Lewis E. Wint and Son Funeral Home, Clarkston. Funeral Service was Sept. 9 at Clarkston United Methodist Church. Private interment in his family plot at Lakeview Cemetery. Memorials may be made to U.S. Naval Academy Foundation or Clarkston Rotary. Online guest book www.wintfuneralhome.com.

  Bart Clark