Jeanne and Bob Clark ’63 Leave $5 Million to Support Future Laurentians
For decades, Robert “Bob” Clark ’63 made a habit of looking ahead.
He planned for retirement long before he needed it. He invested patiently in real estate. He established a living trust 28 years ago and secured long-term care insurance so that he and his wife of 56 years (and counting), Jeanne, would be prepared for whatever the future might bring.
Now, that lifelong habit of planning has led to a transformative commitment to St. Lawrence University.
Through the Robert M. and Jeanne B. Clark Living Trust, the Clarks have designated $5 million—approximately half of their estate—to St. Lawrence.
When realized, the gift will establish an endowed scholarship fund for students with financial need, creating opportunities for generations of Laurentians to come.
“Bob never talked about making these decisions,” Jeanne says. “He just quietly and thoughtfully made them.”
Their planned gift is, in many ways, the culmination of a philosophy that shaped Bob’s life. Growing up in Holliston, Massachusetts, in a home shared by three generations of family, he developed an early determination to build a future defined by independence and self-sufficiency. A scholarship from the St. Lawrence University Alumni Club of Boston helped make college possible, and he never forgot the opportunity
it provided.
After graduating from St. Lawrence in 1963, Bob served as a Plane Commander of P-2 and P-3s, flying patrol and reconnaissance with crews of 10 during five years of active duty. He continued to fly and instruct during his additional 20 years of Reserve Duty.
Later, he and Jeanne built a life in the Pacific Northwest, where he pursued his passions for sailing, skiing, hiking, and racquetball. Yet even in recreation, Bob was always thinking ahead. His love of sailing led to buying a slip as an investment. His love of skiing led to buying a townhouse near Mount Baker, Washington. Over time, he assembled and managed rental properties that helped secure the future he envisioned for his family.
“Bob didn’t want to depend on others for our financial security,” Jeanne says. “He was always looking for opportunities to invest in real estate and equities, even if it wasn’t apparent. I am so grateful to be the beneficiary of that thinking.”
That foresight has proven especially meaningful. Bob was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) in 2012, and Jeanne says the careful planning he put in place decades earlier continues to provide security and peace of mind today. While navigating Bob’s disease is a daily challenge, Jeanne has found helpful resources through the local senior center and national support through The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration. She encourages any individuals and families who may be facing a similar diagnosis to join a support group for dementia caregivers and visit theaftd.org to learn more.
President Kate Morris shared her reflections on the full-circle nature of this gift. “A scholarship helped Bob come to St. Lawrence, and now his generosity will help a new generation of students find their own path here,” she says. “It is a powerful reminder that philanthropy creates opportunities that ripple across decades.”
The scholarship is a fitting legacy for a man who spent a lifetime preparing for the future—not only his own, but that of others.
