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In Memoriam: Richard “Dick” Clark, Jr.

Emeritus Professor Richard “Dick” James Clark, Jr., died at home in Amherst, Mass., on Monday, August 11, 2009 at the age of 70.

From 1968 until he left to accept a position as the Dean of the College of Education at UMass Boston in 1997, Dr. Clark dedicated his professional life to the UMass Amherst School of Education. For 30 years he served in a variety of positions, including Director of Teacher Education, Associate Dean for Program Development, chair of the Department of Teacher Education and Curriculum Studies, founding Chair of the Department of Teacher Education and School Improvement, special assistant to the Provost, and professor.

Dr. Clark was instrumental in creating the award-winning Math, English and Science Teacher Education Program (MESTEP) for master’s level students which ran for 13 years in cooperation with Boston-area school systems. He chaired the Massachusetts Advisory Commission on Educational Personnel, served as the UMass system President’s Education advisor, and led a desegregation initiative with English High School in Boston.

Dick graduated from Amherst College in 1960 as an American Studies major; received his Master’s degree in Education from Harvard University in 1961, and his doctorate in Education from Stanford University in 1969. During this time, he worked as an elementary school teacher in Concord and Lexington, Mass.and was principal of the Earle Johnson Elementary School in Jefferson County, Colorado from 1963-1966.

Dick retired from the University in 2000 but continued an as enthusiastic UMass volunteer. He had been a member of the School of Education’s Dean’s Leadership Council since its inception in 2007. Dick leaves his wife, Casey, his children, Theodore, Karen and Steve and their families, and five grandchildren.

The Richard J. Clark Memorial Scholarship for Teacher Education

In August, Dr. Clark's family requested that contributions in Dick's memory be made to the School of Education. The resulting response from caring and generous alumni, colleagues and friends moved us to consider creating a memorial that would honor Dr. Clark in a lasting and meaningful way.

We are pleased to announce that the School of Education has initiated an effort to raise funds to create the Richard J. Clark Memorial Scholarship for Teacher Education. Once established, this endowed scholarship will be awarded annually to graduate students in the Teacher Education and Curriculum Studies Department.

We hope you will join us in remembering a beloved professor, education leader and friend who had a profound impact on our lives by making a gift to this endowed scholarship fund in his memory.

To support this effort, please click here. For more information, contact Director of Development Jera Jamison at jjamison@educ.umass.edu or at (413) 545-2705. Thank you.