Colin S. Clark

Salem, Massachusetts
Colin S. Clark, 54, of Salem died Saturday, February 13, 2021, at Brigham and Women’s hospital in Boston following a brief illness.

He was born May 11, 1966 in Greenfield to Joan L. (Crocker) and Frederick G. Clark. Colin grew up in Marblehead and attended local schools, graduating from the New Hampton School in New Hampshire in 1985. He had a year-long stint at the University of Tampa before returning to Marblehead. Upon his return, Colin started a job as a busboy at The Landing, until one fateful night when he filled in for an absent bartender. He stayed behind the bar for the next twenty years—moving on from The Landing to pour drinks at Rio Grande, The Rockmore, Sylvan Street Grill and The Three Cod. Colin’s easy smile and quick wit made him the best kind of bartender; he had your drink ready as soon as you walked in the door, he was adept at talking to anyone, and could easily keep multiple conversations going at the same time. Perhaps most importantly, he always knew the right moment to walk away.

After two decades of restaurant life, Colin decided he had had enough of night shifts and began a new chapter. He returned to school and finished his undergraduate degree in education at Salem State University. He went on to obtain a graduate degree with high honors in Geographical Information Sciences (GIS), and he was inducted into the Gamma Theta Upsilon International Geographical Honor Society and the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. In 2013, he put his degree to work at Eversource as a GIS Technician, and was Lead GIS Technician at the time of his death.

Colin’s love of local nightlife made him a familiar face on the other side of the bar as well—a popular figure around town, his KENO numbers (5, 11, 13, 66, 69) were well known, as was his fiery competitive streak, especially when it came to darts and golf—he hated to lose at anything! He was incredibly loyal, wildly opinionated, and always the life of the party. On more than one occasion, he was known to commandeer a spontaneous trip to Foxwoods at closing time rather than see the night end. His many close friendships spanned decades, and once he took you under his wing, you had a friend for life.

Colin was also a true sports fan from an early age—beginning with street hockey and stickball on Dodge Road in Marblehead. He moved on to ice hockey at New Hampton School and golfing in Florida. He was a devoted fan of the Bruins, the Patriots, the Red Sox, and the Celtics (in that order). He challenged himself and his friends with golf league play at area courses and around New England. Colin was known for carrying a bucket of balls and a couple of clubs in the back of his car for impromptu driving sessions (sometimes pulling over to hit balls into the lake!). He enjoyed water recreation, held a Coast Guard captain’s rating, and had a mooring in Salem Harbor for years.

Growing up, Colin and his brother Chris spent many days with his Clark grandparents at the family orchard, Clarkdale, in Deerfield; and enjoyed time with his Crocker grandparents in Shelburne. Colin continued to look forward to visits at the farm where he was still affectionately known as “Bigfoot” by his younger cousins. He also loved the quiet retreat of the family lake cottage in Spofford, NH, and spent time there each summer.

He will be forever remembered with love by his father Frederick (Rick) G. Clark and stepmother Janice of Greenfield, his niece Lily Clark and nephew Aubrey Clark and their mother Joyce Clark of Salem, and his loving extended Clark and Crocker families; and by his closest longtime friends from the Gerry 5 Veteran Fireman’s Association, his Eversource team, and scores of friends from all corners of his life. He also leaves a trail of broken hearts across the country.
Sadly, he was predeceased by his mother Joan Bavaria, his beloved Siamese cat Señor Gato, and most recently by his brother Christopher, who died in November 2020.

A celebration of Colin’s life will take place in the Marblehead/Salem area when COVID-19 restrictions allow. A private committal service will take place in Greenfield in the Clark family plot at Green River Cemetery. Expressions of affection are suggested in the form of a charitable contribution in Colin’s memory to your local animal shelter. A local golf tournament is being organized in his honor, as well as two scholarships through Eversource and the Fire Department. More information will be forthcoming.

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