1915 2017 Henry Benjamin Clark, Jr. passed away peacefully at Kahala Nui in Honolulu on May 30, 2017, at 101 years of age. Born in 1915 in Chevy Chase, Md., Henry Clark first arrived on the shores of Hawaii in 1941 as a U.S. Naval officer. He was on active duty for six years, serving tours on the USS Cockatoo at Pearl Harbor and the USS Mainstay in the Mediterranean and Japan. He was stationed in Pearl Harbor when it was bombed, but the mine sweeper he was captaining was not hit. In 1943, after receiving the consent of Admiral Nimitz, as was required during the War, Henry married kama'aina Geraldine Damon Putman. Henry and "Gerry" raised two sons, Putman Damon ("Putty") Clark and Sefton Robinson ("Bee") Clark. During his 49 year marriage to Gerry, herself a painter, Henry made many important contributions to culture and the arts in Hawaii. Henry Clark joined Castle & Cooke in 1946 working first as an analyst and eventually rising through the ranks to become vice chairman, then president, CEO and chairman in the early 1980s. He retired in 1985 at the age of 70. "He was such a well-liked person that they would never let him retire," said Agnes Fujimoto, his executive secretary for more than 30 years. "He never wanted it known that he was donating money," she said. "Most of the things he did were always anonymous." A 1940 Harvard Business School graduate, Henry believed in the value of education and has funded numerous scholarships at local schools, including Hawaii Preparatory Academy, Punahou School, La Pietra School for Girls and Mid-Pacific Institute. Henry served for 16 years as Board Chairman of the Honolulu Academy of Arts, now known as The Honolulu Museum of Art, and donated hundreds of pieces to the museum over a span of 45 years. His noteworthy donations included works by Francis Bacon, Paul Cezanne, Pablo Picasso, Henry Matisse, Edgar Degas, Wassily Kandinsky and sculptor Henry Moore. Henry's achievements at the Museum, working closely with then Museum Director George Ellis, brought him great enjoyment and satisfaction. His philosophy: "Works of art should not be possessions by just one or two but shared by many." Following the passing of Geraldine, Henry married the former Charlotte Barrett Cusack in 1996. Henry and "Charlie," herself an interior designer and lover of the arts, continued as very active supporters of the Honolulu Museum, and of culture and arts in Hawaii, during their 19 year marriage. Henry joined the YMCA of Honolulu Board of Directors in 1954 and remained a board member until 2010. He served as Chairman of the Board from 1962 1969 and accomplished extended fundraising for the Nuuanu YMCA Building, provided college scholarships and established an endowment to send young YMCA adults to do humanitarian work in the Philippines. He served on the Board of the National Councils of YMCAs and received the YMCA of the USA's highest honor, the "National Treasure Award." In addition he served as Chairman of the Honolulu Symphony Society, Aloha United Way, McInerny Foundation and Hawaii Business Roundtable. He was a longtime board member of the Palolo Chinese Home for the Elderly. He's the namesake of Clark Park in Waimea on the Big Island, Clark Auditorium at Hawaii State Hospital and the Clark Scholarship at the University of Hawaii. In 1994 Henry received the Governor's Award for Distinguished Achievement in Culture, the Arts and Humanities. Corporate boards that Henry Clark served on have included Hawaiian Airlines, First Insurance Company of Hawaii and Bunker Hill Income Securities Inc. Other achievements in which Henry took satisfaction included nominating the first woman to the board of Castle & Cooke and his promoting the naming of Asian-Americans to corporate boards and as members of private clubs including The Pacific Club. Henry is survived by son Sefton Clark (wife Alice), granddaughters Amanda, Katie and Jenna Clark, stepgrandsons Henry and Sidney Parkhill, great granddaughter Irie Clark, stepdaughter Maria Parkhill (husband Tony), and stepson Barrett Francis (wife Alison). Henry was predeceased by his first wife Geraldine in 1992, his second wife Charlotte in 2015 and his elder son, Putman in 2016. A celebration of life service will be held at 3:00 - 5:00 PM on Sunday, August 20 in Honolulu. For the location please call Sandi at the YMCA (808) 541-5484 or E-mail at smactagone@ymcahonolulu.org. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations made out to the YMCA of Honolulu, for the Henry Clark Scholarship Fund.
1915 2017 Henry Benjamin Clark, Jr. passed away peacefully at Kahala Nui in Honolulu on May 30, 2017, at 101 years of age. Born in 1915 in Chevy Chase, Md., Henry Clark first arrived on the shores of Hawaii in 1941 as a U.S. Naval officer. He was on active duty for six years, serving tours on the USS Cockatoo at Pearl Harbor and the USS Mainstay in the Mediterranean and Japan. He was stationed in Pearl Harbor when it was bombed, but the mine sweeper he was captaining was not hit. In 1943, after receiving the consent of Admiral Nimitz, as was required during the War, Henry married kama'aina Geraldine Damon Putman. Henry and "Gerry" raised two sons, Putman Damon ("Putty") Clark and Sefton Robinson ("Bee") Clark. During his 49 year marriage to Gerry, herself a painter, Henry made many important contributions to culture and the arts in Hawaii. Henry Clark joined Castle & Cooke in 1946 working first as an analyst and eventually rising through the ranks to become vice chairman, then president, CEO and chairman in the early 1980s. He retired in 1985 at the age of 70. "He was such a well-liked person that they would never let him retire," said Agnes Fujimoto, his executive secretary for more than 30 years. "He never wanted it known that he was donating money," she said. "Most of the things he did were always anonymous." A 1940 Harvard Business School graduate, Henry believed in the value of education and has funded numerous scholarships at local schools, including Hawaii Preparatory Academy, Punahou School, La Pietra School for Girls and Mid-Pacific Institute. Henry served for 16 years as Board Chairman of the Honolulu Academy of Arts, now known as The Honolulu Museum of Art, and donated hundreds of pieces to the museum over a span of 45 years. His noteworthy donations included works by Francis Bacon, Paul Cezanne, Pablo Picasso, Henry Matisse, Edgar Degas, Wassily Kandinsky and sculptor Henry Moore. Henry's achievements at the Museum, working closely with then Museum Director George Ellis, brought him great enjoyment and satisfaction. His philosophy: "Works of art should not be possessions by just one or two but shared by many." Following the passing of Geraldine, Henry married the former Charlotte Barrett Cusack in 1996. Henry and "Charlie," herself an interior designer and lover of the arts, continued as very active supporters of the Honolulu Museum, and of culture and arts in Hawaii, during their 19 year marriage. Henry joined the YMCA of Honolulu Board of Directors in 1954 and remained a board member until 2010. He served as Chairman of the Board from 1962 1969 and accomplished extended fundraising for the Nuuanu YMCA Building, provided college scholarships and established an endowment to send young YMCA adults to do humanitarian work in the Philippines. He served on the Board of the National Councils of YMCAs and received the YMCA of the USA's highest honor, the "National Treasure Award." In addition he served as Chairman of the Honolulu Symphony Society, Aloha United Way, McInerny Foundation and Hawaii Business Roundtable. He was a longtime board member of the Palolo Chinese Home for the Elderly. He's the namesake of Clark Park in Waimea on the Big Island, Clark Auditorium at Hawaii State Hospital and the Clark Scholarship at the University of Hawaii. In 1994 Henry received the Governor's Award for Distinguished Achievement in Culture, the Arts and Humanities. Corporate boards that Henry Clark served on have included Hawaiian Airlines, First Insurance Company of Hawaii and Bunker Hill Income Securities Inc. Other achievements in which Henry took satisfaction included nominating the first woman to the board of Castle & Cooke and his promoting the naming of Asian-Americans to corporate boards and as members of private clubs including The Pacific Club. Henry is survived by son Sefton Clark (wife Alice), granddaughters Amanda, Katie and Jenna Clark, stepgrandsons Henry and Sidney Parkhill, great granddaughter Irie Clark, stepdaughter Maria Parkhill (husband Tony), and stepson Barrett Francis (wife Alison). Henry was predeceased by his first wife Geraldine in 1992, his second wife Charlotte in 2015 and his elder son, Putman in 2016. A celebration of life service will be held at 3:00 - 5:00 PM on Sunday, August 20 in Honolulu. For the location please call Sandi at the YMCA (808) 541-5484 or E-mail at smactagone@ymcahonolulu.org. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations made out to the YMCA of Honolulu, for the Henry Clark Scholarship Fund.
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
