Joseph B. Clarke

Joseph B. Clarke passed away on July 16, 2022, at the age of 85 in Orangeburg, NY.  A long-time resident of Pearl River, NY, Joe served as the Superintendent of Parks, Recreation and Building Maintenance for the Town of Orangetown NY from 1969 to his retirement in November of 1996.  His pride and joy, Joe expanded the parkland in the town to over 500 acres for the pleasure and enjoyment of all, inclusive of Blue Hill Golf Course, a 27-hole facility in the town, Veteran’s Park and the Rails to Trails program which is now named the Joseph B. Clarke Rail Trail, a 4-mile paved path that converted miles of abandoned railroad track bed into Rockland County’s first linear park.  Prior to moving to Pearl River, Joe served in management positions of recreation for the Village of Mamaroneck, NY and the Boy’s Club of Mount Kisco, NY.  Joe was an active member of St. Aedan’s parish serving as a eucharistic minister; a dedicated swim and dive official in New York State and a past president and lifetime member of Pearl River Hook & Ladder Company.  Joe is a graduate of Sacred Heart High School in Yonkers, NY; Manhattan College in Riverdale, NY; and earned a Masters of Arts from Columbia University, New York, NY. Joe will always be remembered for his love of history, fishing and spending time with family and friends regaling them with stories of the past, while wearing his traditional uniform of a polo shirt, khakis and a pair of “dirty bucks.” 

Joe is survived by his wife of 60 years, Donna Breen Clarke, whom he first met at the Amackassin Club in Yonkers, NY, and his three children, Kevin (Cory) Clarke of Great Falls, VA; Kerry Clarke Postupak of Morristown, NJ; and Megan (James) Farrell of Wyoming, PA; seven grandchildren, Shannon, Michael, James, Molly, Brendan, Emily and Liam; his sister, Letitia Pallone; and numerous nieces, nephews and their children as well.  Joe is pre-deceased by his parents, Richard and Teresa Clarke, and his brothers, Richard and John and sister, Teresa Drain.

The viewing will be held Thursday, July 21 from 4-8pm at The Wyman-Fisher Funeral Home in Pearl River, NY.  Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Aedan’s Church, Pearl River on Friday, July 22 at 10am, followed by interment at St. Anthony’s Catholic Cemetery, Nanuet, NY.

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