Maurice Clark

Brunswick – As an athlete, soldier, coach, educator, and salesman, Maurice Clark was active in Maine education, sports, and charitable organizations. He was born in 1926, the second of nine children in Westfield, Maine in Aroostook County. Maurice attended elementary school in a one room school house. During the cold northern Maine winters, he was picked up for school by a wood-stove-warmed horse-drawn sled. It was Maurice’s responsibility to keep the fire burning as the horses hauled the students to school. Maurice was the Westfield cross-country skiing champion at age ten. He graduated from Aroostook Central Institute in Mars Hill where he played varsity baseball and basketball, and participated in outdoor winter sports. After graduation in 1944, Maurice enlisted in the U.S. Army at age 17 and served in Europe with the famous 42nd Rainbow Division. He was awarded the Infantry Combat Badge and ribbons, including the European Theatre of Operations and The Presidential Unit Citation. Upon his discharge he enrolled at the University of Maine at Farmington for two years and then transferred to University of Maine at Orono where he received his bachelor’s degree. Maurice taught and coached at Mapleton High School for a year, became principal at Richmond Grammar School, and then moved to Bath’s North Grammar School as principal. When Bath Junior High was built Maurice became assistant principal and athletic director there. In 1950 he became an active basketball official and officiated for over 30 years as a collegiate and high school referee. He was elected president of the State Basketball Council, which preceded the current State Basketball Commission. Maurice was president of the Western Maine Basketball Board. He received the Ollie Berg award in 1998 for his contributions to the game. He coached the Bath Demolay basketball team to five straight New England Championships. He coached Bath’s Smith-Tobey Post American Legion baseball team which won several divisional titles and won the state title in 1957. Maurice also coached football, basketball and baseball teams at Bath Junior High and 5th and 6th grade basketball at Newell Elementary School in Bath. Maurice entered the educational publishing business in 1962 and traveled throughout New England selling textbooks, reading programs and later computer software for schools and libraries. He spent 55 years in the business, retiring in 2017 at the age of 90. He was a past president of The New England Educational Sales Organization and very active on their behalf. Maurice was a member of Solar Masonic Lodge in Bath and also Kora Shrine in Lewiston. He was elected president of Maine Sports Legends in 2006 and culminated his term by being selected to their Hall of Honors in 2010. He was a longtime member of Brunswick Golf Club as well as a member of the Maine Seniors Golf Association and the Central Maine Seniors Golf Association. First Parish Church in Brunswick counted him as a member for 40 years. Maurice is survived by his wife, Sandra L. Stevens, and his four children, David Clark and wife Joanne of Madison, Connecticut, Lisabeth Milliken and husband Richard of Scarborough, Maine, Michael H. Clark of Newmarket, NH, and Sarah Szafir and husband Dennis Langdell of Essex Junction, Vermont. Also sisters Dorothy Bridges and husband Humphrey of Waterbury, Connecticut, and Carolyn Doak and Eloise McDowell, both of Enfield, Connecticut. Maurice is survived by a brother, Marvin Clark and wife Jean of Blairsville, Georgia. Maurice has nine grandchildren including Sarah (Clark) Vale Da Serra and husband Jamie of Tolland, Connecticut, Michael D. Clark and wife Rachel of Bolton, Connecticut, Rosie (Milliken) Mazuroski and husband Nick Mazuroski of Scarborough, Maine, Kevin Milliken of Scarborough, Maine, Ben Clark of Alexandria, Virginia, Will Clark of Boston, Massachusetts, Harry Clark of Newmarket, NH, Matthew Szafir of Williston, Vermont, Dan Szafir and wife Danielle Szafir of Erie, Colorado. Maurice also has four great grandchildren and a new one on the way. Great grandchildren include Caden and Olivia Vale Da Serra of Tolland, Connecticut, and Logan and Haley Clark of Bolton, Connecticut. Maurice was predeceased by his father, Harry Clark, his mother, Glenna (Tweedie) Clark, and his brothers Merrill, Wendell, Dean, and Lawrence. The family wishes to thank all of Maurice’s care givers for their steadfast loyalty, kindness, and committed devotion over the last year. Immense thanks to Avita of Stroudwater Memory Care in Westbrook, Maine. Special thanks to Brianna and Dana, and caring staff in the Summer wing, who made compassionate and loving connections with Maurice. Thanks also, to staff and friends at Coastal Landing Independent Living in Brunswick, Maine. Thank you to Kindred At Home of Portland, and Compassus Hospice Care of Scarborough for your skilled and individualized care. Thank you to caregiver Steve from Comfort Keepers of Scarborough, for his companionship, and for the loving and heartfelt care of Wendy from Advantage Home Care of Portland. The compassionate care provided will never be forgotten by the family.

A funeral service was held at the First Parish Church in Brunswick on September 14, 2018. Interment was at the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Mt. Vernon Rd. in Augusta.  Arrangements are in care of Brackett Funeral Home, 29 Federal Street, Brunswick, Maine.