Tony Mark Clarke, 55, of Newport, formerly of Middletown, died unexpectedly Friday, August 25, 2017 in Newport, RI.
Mr. Clarke was born January 11, 1962 in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He is the son of William Herman and the late Argenida Maria (Osorio) Clarke.
The Clarke family settled in Middletown, RI in the early 1960’s, when Boatswains Mate Clarke received orders to Naval Station Newport. From that point forward, the Clarke family was active in the community.
Tony was an altar boy at St. Lucy’s Church in Middletown and attended parochial school until his teens. Once tony turned sixteen, he decided to become a commercial fisherman. He worked for some of the most well-known fishing fleets in this area. He worked at Fatulli’s Lobster Company, sorting lobsters, catching fish on F/V Janet. He also worked on the F/V Audrey Lynn F/V Christine Roberts, F/V Independence, and many other boats over his thirty-plus years as a fisherman. He was one of the last fisherman that knew old world fishing techniques such as Scottish Seining.
Tony had many other talents. He was an incredible cook, anyone that Tony cooked for, was treated to a remarkable and delicious dinner, and no one left hungry. He was a landscaper and gardener, working many years ago for Gill Landscaping, on Chase’s lane in Middletown. His most recent position, was working for the Hinckley Yachts family. Tony was a man of many talents. He was a wonderful individual in every sense of the word.
Tony had a lot of friends from many different walks of life, and he will, without a doubt, be missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by; his father William Herman Clarke; his brothers Carlos, Edward and his wife Jeanette, his daughter Kira, and his new grandson, Noah, and many nieces and nephews. He was the former husband of Patti Potter.
Calling hours will be held on will be held on Thursday August 31, 2017 from 5-8pm in the Memorial Funeral Home 375 Broadway in Newport.
His funeral will be held on Friday September 1, 2017 at 8:00am in the funeral home, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:00am in St. Lucy’s Church, 909 West Main Road in Middletown.
Burial will be in St. Columba Cemetery, Brown’s Lane in Middletown.
