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CLARK -- Bruce Raymond Clark, 75, loving husband of Fran and father of six, died peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Tuesday September 15, 2009. Bruce was the son of Raymond and Elizabeth Clark born October 9, 1933 in Rochester, NY where he grew up with his younger sister Sarah and a large extended family. He graduated from West High and started college in Pennsylvania. He served in the U.S. Army, assigned to Panama Communications, protecting the canal. He attended the engineering school of Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY where he met Fran who was attending the art school. A classic case of opposites attracted to each other, they were joined by their love of music and song. Bruce graduated from Pratt with a bachelor degree in Industrial Engineering and was hired by General Electric. Fran and Bruce began their family in the Tri-City area of upstate New York. When Bruce was hired by IBM, the family was transferred to Rochester, MN, where the last two children were born. Bruce was an active father with all six children, supporting sports, scouting, and musical activities, and adventurous camping trips with Fran and the children every summer. Bruce was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Rochester, MN eventually becoming an Elder of the church. His love of song kept him involved as a baritone in his church choir, a barbershop quartet, and Rochester Civic Theater musical performances. He was a member of the stage crew for Special Delivery music-performance group. He loved pitching for the Charlie Brown All Stars, an IBM softball team. He was a faithful son, caring for his elderly mother. After all the children left for college, IBM transferred Fran and Bruce to Albuquerque, where Bruce earned his 25-year pin as an employee of IBM, working as a programmer and sales engineer. Loving his customer service work, he continued to work part-time for many years with the computer specialists at Tri-Con Group. Covenant Presbyterian Church was his spiritual home. The music of Harmony Project was dear to his heart. Bruce was in full glory last summer during a family reunion at Sedona and Lake Powell celebrating his 50th wedding anniversary with Fran and their twenty-two descendents and extended family. Bruce experienced his first heart attack at age 48, the same age that his father died, but the doctors at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN saved his life. Bruce was grateful to the medical community, especially the folks at the New Heart cardiac rehabilitative exercise program, for an additional 30 years to be with his family. We are especially thankful for the dedication of Dr. Federici and the nursing staff at the Heart Hospital in Albuquerque. Bruce was preceded in death by his parents; and sister. He is survived by his wife Fran; daughter Deb (and James) Sturdevant, daughter Cheryl (and David) Franke, daughter Linda (and Don) Flick; son Steve (and Liz) Clark; daughter Sue (and Charlie) Betz; and son Ray (and Karen) Clark. He was a proud Papa to Amy, Kristen, Laura, Rick, Elise, Amanda, Angelica, Evalyn, Keane, and Alex. A memorial service and reception will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, September 18, 2009 at Covenant Presbyterian Church, located at 9315 Candelaria Road NE in Albuquerque (505-299-3621). Please make memorial donations to Covenant Presbyterian Church. The family would love help in cherishing your memories of Bruce at our online memorial guestbook (caringbridge.org/visits/bclark21).
        Published on: Fri September 18, 2009