Francis Joseph Clarke
Francis Joseph Clarke was born in New York City on March 24, 1941. He grew up in the Highbridge section in the Bronx, the youngest of three children to Frank and Margaret McHale Clarke, both from County Mayo, Ireland. He was educated at Sacred Heart Elementary School and Cathedral Preparatory, a Minor Seminary, on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. He graduated from Fordham University in 1963.
After Fordham, he joined the U.S. Navy, serving two years aboard the U.S.S. Lowry. He spent one year helping sandblast the ship in Norfolk, Va. and the second getting a chance to see different parts of the world, including ports in Europe.
Following the Navy, he took a job with the Ronald Press in Manhattan, where he met his future wife, Elizabeth Ann Slocum. They had their first date at Molly Maguire's Pub and Restaurant on St. Patrick's Day in 1967 and got married on September 14, 1968 at St Vincent Ferrer Church in New York City. They were married 56 years and were deeply devoted to each other, with Elizabeth caring for and comforting him at their apartment in Manhattan as he fought a short battle with cancer. He died peacefully in his sleep on the morning of April 1.
After living a brief time in the Bronx, Frank and Elizabeth moved to Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y. in 1970 where they raised their three sons: Andrew (born in 1969), Paul (born in 1971) and David (born in 1974).
Frank retired from a long career in the reinsurance industry in 2009. He had an incredible work ethic that was developed at a young age. He took his first job when he was around 10-years-old, sweeping out a neighborhood store. Growing up in a working class family, he held a number of after school jobs, among his favorites was as an errand boy for a local butcher, who inspired a lifelong interest in food and nutrition. At age 12, he was able to buy his family their first television set from his earnings from that job.
Curious and intelligent, he was a lifelong learner who devoured numerous newspapers each day and tuned into the PBS Newshour at night. When he began to travel more broadly once his sons were out of college, he would make the most of the trips to London and other European capitals by studying up on everything he wanted to see months in advance, occasionally writing to the travel guide authors to correct their errors.
He was also a prodigious saver, prioritizing spending money on family dinners and vacations as well as his sons’ education. He particularly enjoyed the family’s yearly trip to Martha’s Vineyard, where he had earlier honeymooned with Elizabeth. His kids got a kick out of the lengths he would go to bulk up the bank account for these activities. He cut coupons, viewed jeans as a 15-year-investment, and insisted on commuting to work in a car without air conditioning or a radio, which he considered frivolous luxuries. But he was always generous with his family and others – most importantly with his time and attention. He was an uncommonly decent man with an empathetic spirit.
In Croton, he was an active member of Holy Name of Mary Church where he served as a lector and a member of the choir. As a boy, he was an altar boy. As an adult, he often attended mass multiple times a week.
In the early 2000s, he and Elizabeth bid the suburban life goodbye and moved into an apartment in Manhattan just up the avenue from the United Nations. He was invigorated by all there was to do and took joy in even routine activities like grocery shopping at different markets as well as chamber music concerts at local churches. The neighborhood was in some ways far from the Bronx where he grew up, but also had reminders of the life his immigrant parents built for themselves and their children with the opportunities they found in America. The Con Edison plant where his father worked was only a few blocks down the street and around the corner was a brownstone where his mother worked as a maid when she first arrived from Ireland.
Along with being a loving father and husband, he was a welcoming and loving presence for his three daughters-in-law: Kristen, Jennifer and Margaret. He made each feel like a member of the family.
He was also a wonderful grandfather, or “Papa,” who took immense joy in his four grandchildren: Matt (25), Emma (23), Betsy (4) and Charlotte (18 months). He was an enthusiastic singer whose tastes ran toward old standards. As young children, Matt and Emma got a kick out of his renditions of “Top Hat, White Tie and Tails” and “I Got Shoes.” Betsy and Charlotte loved hearing him sing “Alouette, Gentille Alouette” with Betsy proudly learning the lyrics so she could sing the song back to him. All four were treated to his monkey face and learned to make it themselves while laughing.
Frank Clarke is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Slocum Clarke of Manhattan; his sons Andrew (Kristen Thomas Clarke) of Devon, Pa.; Paul (Jennifer Kotler Clarke) of Ossining, N.Y., David (Margaret Lynn Chadbourn) of Alexandria, Va.; his grandchildren Matthew of Nashville, Tenn., Emma of Philadelphia, Pa.; Elizabeth “Betsy” of Alexandria, Va. and Charlotte Frances of Alexandria, Va., and numerous nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his sisters Anne Bérubé and Rita Buckley.
There will be a memorial service to celebrate Frank's life at The Church of St. Vincent Ferrer, at 869 Lexington Ave (Between 65th & 66th) New York, NY 10065 on April 14th at 10am. Following the service, there will be a luncheon at Copinette located at 891 1st Ave (at 50th Street), New York, NY 10022.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Frank’s honor to the following organizations:
Carpenter’s Shelter
Breakthrough T1D,
NYC Bird Alliance
New Title
Loeva Bernard passed away peacefully on February 21, 2026, at the age of 96. She was born in Cottonwood Falls Kansas on September 12, 1929. She was preceded in death by her husband Arther Bernard and her brother, Charles F. Klamm and his wife Carol J. Klamm and a nephew Daniel E. Klamm. She is survived by her nephews David L. (Regina) Klamm and Kenneth G. (Trish) Klamm and her niece Kaylene S. (Charles) Campbell, plus many great nieces and nephews. She was a dearly loved friend of Lee Wolpert. She will be deeply missed and remembered fondly by all those who knew her.
Barbara Lane 1939 – 2026 Barbara Lane passed away peacefully on the morning of February 11th 2026 at the age of 86. Born on September 30th, 1939, at the Polyclinc Hospital, Barbara was a lifelong resident of New York City’s Upper East Side. She was raised alongside her sister Joanne under the loving guidance of her mother Dorothy and her father Edward. She learned her love of culture, refinement and the art of presence from her father Eddie and she gained her strength and grace from her mother and best friend Dorothy. Barbara also cherished her beloved sister, Joanne Elizabeth Kauper, whose strong bond and lifelong friendship was a central part her life. After attending Lady Cliff College Barbara worked for Columbia Presbyterian Hospital before beginning a long and distinguished career at the Waldorf Astoria Towers. She was often referred to as “the face of the towers” and served as a gracious host and confidant to celebrities, world leaders and stewards of industry. What defined Barbara was her ability to make every guest feel valued and genuinely important regardless of prominence or position. Barbara cherished her lifelong friendships with her colleagues that were not only based in camaraderie but represented their loyalty and genuine affection for each other. Barbara was well known for her calligraphy. The Waldorf often commissioned her for this exceptional talent. This skill reflected her precision, artistry, and impeccable standards. Her professional life later continued in the world of fine art and hospitality at Christies Auction House where her appreciation for beauty and detail remained a constant and she developed important lasting friendships with her colleagues. Barbara was a devoted daughter, sister, aunt, loyal friend and a woman of deep Catholic faith. Barbara is survived by her sister‘s husband G Gerard Kauper, her nieces and nephews Lane Elizabeth Kauper Peterson, Gabrielle, Khristina, Gerard, Nicholas, George, Edward, Joseph and Christian Kauper, Chelsea Wolf, Whitney Peterson, Yanory Valerio, her great-niece's Genevieve Peterson, Cassandra Robinson and great-nephew’s George Peterson, Justin, George, Gavin, Nicholas and Anthony Kauper.
Linda Baylis-Mallia, of Manhattan, New York, passed away peacefully on February 17, 2026, at the age of 79. Born on September 9, 1946, in New York City, she was a proud New Yorker through and through. Linda earned her undergraduate degree from City College of New York and her master’s degree from Columbia University, before going on to build the Baylis-Mallia Group. Linda approached life with curiosity and style. She loved traveling the world, exploring New York City’s newest galleries and restaurants, and, of course, shopping at Bloomingdale’s. She is survived by her devoted husband, Anthony. Linda will be remembered as a true New Yorker and will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.
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Jacqueline (Niego) Turner of Manhattan, New York, passed away peacefully on January 27, 2026, at the age of 88. Born on March 4, 1937, in the Bronx, she was the beloved daughter of Olga and Joseph Niego. A proud New Yorker through and through, Jacqueline built a life defined by devotion—to her family, her faith, and her work. After graduating from Cathedral High School in New York City, she spent over three decades serving the United States Government with dedication and professionalism before continuing her career in the private sector with more than two decades at Bristol Myers Squibb. Her strong work ethic and commitment to excellence earned her the respect of colleagues across the years. In 1994, Jacqueline married Nicholas Turner, with whom she shared a deep faith and a love of dancing until his passing. Together, they made their home in Manhattan, where Jacqueline lived for the remainder of her life. Jacqueline was a lifelong and active member of the Catholic Church, serving faithfully as a lector for many decades. Her voice, presence, and reverence were well known and cherished within her parish community. Outside of work and church, Jacqueline was an avid New York Yankees fan, and she found great joy in ballroom dancing— a passion that brought her friendship and movement. Jacqueline is survived by her loving sister, Maureen Selskis, and by her many nieces and nephews: Joseph Niego, Michael Niego, James Niego, Kathleen Lawson, Patrick Callahan, Jeanne Confehr, Jacqueline Selskis, Mary Carney, and Albert Selskis. She was a devoted and cherished aunt, great-aunt, and great-great-aunt, and she leaves behind many great-nieces and great-nephews and great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews who will forever hold her memory close. She is preceded in death by her siblings Joseph Niego, Nora Niego and Victoria Callahan, whom she loved dearly. Jacqueline will be remembered as a devoted wife, daughter, sister, aunt, great-aunt, and great-great-aunt; a woman of faith; a loyal friend; and a true New Yorker who will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
June 28,1932—January 15, 2026 New York City, New York
