WESTFIELD – Deanna L. “Dee” Clark, 76, a longtime resident of Westfield, MA, passed away on April 28, 2014 after a long battle with colon cancer. Born in Willimantic, CT on March 27, 1938 to Alfred and Mary Leiss, she graduated from Windham High School and Bryant College (now Bryant University).
She was active in the Westfield community for almost fifty years as a volunteer and as a member of local organizations. As a member of the Westfield Women’s Club, she participated in fundraiser’s, co-chaired Easter Card parties, chaired the Garden Tea in 2003, chaired the Tea’s Sponsor Committee for four years, and helped establish the Evening Division. In 2010, she received the club’s Miriam Reed Award. She also belonged to the Hopefully Well-Affected Club, where she served as president from 2000 – 2002, and to the Boa Sisterhood of Greater Westfield; served on the Republican City Committee; and was a Stanley Park volunteer.
She was a communicant of St. Mary’s Church. She served on the Noble Hospital Visiting Nurse and Hospice Board from 2004-2013. She was a corporator at Noble Hospital, a member of the hospital’s Women’s Auxiliary, co-chair of four Balls and the 1993 Follies, and a member of the Noble Hospital Volunteer Services. She was also a corporator for the Westfield Athenaeum, Shurtleff Children’s Services and Sara Gillette Elder Services. She served on the Board of the American Red Cross, Greater Westfield Chapter, and on the selection committee for the Citizen Scholarship Foundation. A longtime supporter of Westfield State University, she was a member of the Board of Trustees from 1995-2005, and chaired the Scholarship Committee of the Westfield State College Foundation. In 1994, she received a Certificate of Honor for Service to the College, and in 2012, she received an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree as one of four recipients of the inaugural Horace Mann Award for Public Service. In 2012, she was awarded the Rotary International Paul Harris medal from the Westfield Rotary.
She leaves her husband, Donald R. Clark of Westfield; a son, Morgan Clark of Agawam; two daughters, Glenna Smith (Ray) of Doylestown, PA, and Heather Clark (Mytili Jagannathan) of Philadelphia, PA; a sister, Olga Ottaviano of Cheshire, CT; two grandchildren and seven nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her sister, Yolanda Davis.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 31st at 1:00 p.m. in Scanlon Hall, Westfield State University, 577 Western Avenue, Westfield.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Noble Visiting Nurse and Hospice Services, 77 Mill Street, Westfield or Caring Solutions, 680 Westfield Street, West Springfield.
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