Dorothy Clark

STANDISH — Dorothy Mae Clark, 85, of Standish, passed away at her Hearthside Road home on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016, after a brief period of failing health.

She was born in Boston, Mass., on Aug. 10, 1930, the daughter of Raymond and Edna Ahearn Peck. She grew up in Somerville, Mass., and attended local schools.

She married Lee Keene Clark on Aug. 18, 1951. The newlyweds moved to Weymouth, Mass., where Dorothy began her first career as a homemaker and mother of six busy children. She was a PTA volunteer and officer, a Girl Scout troop leader, and she was very active in local politics.

In 1969, Dorothy and Lee bought Naples Marina, and moved the family to Bridgton. Dorothy and Lee operated Naples Marina, together with their sons, until Lee’s untimely passing in 1981. In 1984, Dorothy sold the marina, and moved on to new adventures.

For several years, she worked in the cafeteria at Bridgton Academy, where she was always so proud of all of the accomplishments of “her boys.”

At the age of 60, Dorothy earned her Associate’s Degree in Business Administration from Andover College. She then went to work at AAA in South Portland, as an office assistant. She worked there until her retirement in 1996, when she moved to Standish.

Dorothy certainly made the most of her retirement years, traveling extensively in the United States, Europe, and Australia. Her favorite place to visit was always Ireland.

Dorothy was an avid gardener whose yard was filled with heirloom plants. She loved the Red Sox, and watched them faithfully each season.

Dorothy was also a master knitter, specializing in Irish Fisherman Knit patterns. She made sweaters and hats for every member of the family over the years. She was very generous, knitting dozens of hats for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Maine Medical Center and hundreds of hats and mittens for the children at Edna Libby Elementary School and Bridgton Elementary School. Last winter, she was part of a knitting circle at Mad Horse Theatre, where she helped knit enough pieces to “yarnbomb” an entire hardware store set for the play “Alligator Road.” Dorothy was a member of the Anaheim, Calif., chapter of the VFW Women’s Auxiliary. She knit more than 500 hats for the soldiers serving their country in Afghanistan, and she included a personal note along with every hat. She was always moved to tears when she received a thank you note from one of those soldiers, knowing that her hat had made their life a little more comfortable.

Dorothy was predeceased by her parents, her husband Lee, brother Daniel, and sister Alice. She is survived by 2 brothers: Raymond Peck and his wife Eva of Somerville, MA, and Arthur Peck and his wife Dolores of Anaheim, Calif.; her six children: Lee Clark and his wife Gail of Southboro, Mass.; Donna Fitzpatrick and her husband Daniel of Brooks; Patricia Rutledge and husband Jack of Fla.; Kevin Clark and his wife Ellen Fogg of Naples; Brian Clark and his wife Tammy of Casco; and Sally Clark and her husband Paul Druchniak of Standish, with whom she resided. She is also survived by nine grandchildren: Jennifer Piazza and husband Gregory, Daniel Fitzpatrick and wife Jennifer, Brad Fitzpatrick and wife Shannon, Patrick Fitzpatrick and wife Timmery, Alaina Clark, Boomer Druchniak, Veronica Druchniak, Michael Witkowski, Arielle Witkowski; four great-grandchildren: Evangeline Piazza, Brogan & Conlan Fitzpatrick, Caera Fitzpatrick, Finn Fitzpatrick; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service was held on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016 at Hall Funeral Home, 165 Quaker Ridge Road, Casco. An hour of visitation will begin at 12:00, with the service beginning at 1:00.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Dorothy’s name may be made to the two places that have given her the most joy over the years:

Maine State Ballet, 348 US Route 1, Falmouth, ME 04105, www.mainestateballet.org, or to Mad Horse Theatre Company, 24 Mosher Street, South Portland, ME 04106, www.madhorse.com