David Harrison Clarke

It is with deep sorrow and much love that we mourn the passing of David Harrison Clarke of Decatur, Georgia, on May 8th, 2026, at the age of 95. David was a distinguished scholar, a talented musician, and above all, a deeply devoted family man who left an indelible mark on everyone who loved him.

David was born in Jamestown, NY, on August 14th, 1930, to H. Harrison and Florence "Molly" Clarke. He grew up in Syracuse, NY and Springfield, MA. Following in his father's footsteps in the field of exercise physiology, David earned his B.S. (1952) and M.S. degrees (1953) in Physical Education from Springfield College, later completing his Ph.D. (1959) at the University of Oregon. Between his degrees, he proudly served in the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps from 1953 to 1956, working as Chair of the Physical Reconditioning Section and as an Administrative Assistant in the Department of Surgery at Brooke Army Medical Center in Fort Sam Houston, Texas. As an undergraduate at Springfield college, he met Louise Bennett Terani of Groton, CT at Times Farm Camp, Hartford, CT, where they both worked during summer months. David and Louise were married on August 30, 1952, and so began a wonderful, loving 56-year relationship that resulted in children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

In 1958, David launched a brilliant, decades-long academic career. He began as an Assistant Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, before joining the University of Maryland's Department of Physical Education in 1964. He rose to Full Professor in 1969 and dedicated many years as Director of the Research Laboratory. From 1980 to 1984, he served as Chair of the Department of Physical Education at Indiana University before returning to his beloved University of Maryland in 1984. There, he served as Chair of the Department of Kinesiology for 14 years until his retirement in 1998.

David was a preeminent leader in his field. He authored 77 publications in esteemed professional journals, published 6 books (some co-authored with his father) and shared his research through presentations across the globe. His dedication to scholarship earned him numerous honors, culminating in the prestigious 1996 Luther Halsey Gulick

Medal from the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. He was also an elected Fellow in the American College of Sports Medicine, the Research Consortium of AAHPERD, and the American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education.

Beyond academia, David's life was rich with music. An excellent musician, he brought joy to many playing the clarinet as well as the alto and tenor saxophone. While at Springfield College, he was a founding member of The Sportsmen, a popular eight-student campus dance band that played for local dances throughout his college years. He continued to share his musical gifts by playing in concert and jazz bands throughout his entire life in Maryland, Indiana, and Georgia.

Yet, for all his impressive professional triumphs, David's greatest pride and joy was always his family. He approached fatherhood with devotion, dedication and love. He took his family for extended camping trips every summer, passing on his love for the natural world. David was a lifelong "jogger" into his 90s, setting an example that lives on with his active children and grandchildren. His professional accomplishments were the inspiration that launched his children into fruitful careers, and his patience and love in raising his children alongside our mother inspired how his grandchildren were raised and now how his great grandchildren are being raised.

He was predeceased by his loving wife, Louise Clarke. He is survived by his sister Nancy Hunsdon and her husband Stanley, and his legacy of love, intellect, and warmth lives on through his 3 children, Stephen Harrison Clarke, Gregory Bennett Clarke and his wife Dorothy, and Meredith Louise Clarke Anderson and her husband Ken, 8 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren who all loved him very much.

David's family wishes to send their deepest appreciation and gratitude to the caregivers that helped David in his final months, especially Asia Parks. She gave skilled care, attention, and, especially, love to David and brought comfort to his family.

David will be laid to rest at Elm Grove Cemetery in Mystic, CT, beside his cherished Louise in the Terani family plot. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the David H. & Louise B. Clarke Endowed Scholarship in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Maryland. Memorial gifts can be made online at go.umd.edu/clarke or via check made out to "University of Maryland College Park Foundation" and mailed to: University of Maryland, Gift Acceptance, PO Box 49013, Baltimore, MD 21297-4913. Memo line: Clarke Scholarship #21-40560.