Jay Ransom Clark

July 4, 1954 ~ September 11, 2024

Jay R. Clark, 70, passed away on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, in his hometown of South Bend, Indiana. Born on July 4, 1954, Jay lived a rich and vibrant life, cherished and remembered by all who knew him.

Jay was the son of the late Arthur and Doris (Behrndt) Clark, and throughout his life, he carried their legacy of kindness, strength, and natural curiosity. He married Elizabeth "Beth" Hitson, on August 14, 1982, in South Bend, Indiana.

Jay is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Beth Clark; his beloved labrador, Lilly; his devoted sons, Charles R. (Lauren) Clark of Madison, Wisconsin, and Christopher J. Clark of Golden, Colorado; and his adored granddaughter, Marigold Clark. He was preceded in death by his brother, Jeffrey A. Clark.

Jay was a 1972 graduate of James Whitcomb Riley High School. As an avid learner and natural teacher, Jay's thirst for knowledge led him to Manchester College where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Art Education in 1976. He then completed a Master of Science in Secondary Education from Indiana University South Bend in 1981. He dedicated his professional life to educating others as a passionate mathematics and fine arts teacher at Harrison Elementary, St. Joseph's Grade School, St. Anthony's Grade School, Jackson Middle School, Clay High School, and finally, John Adams High School.

In 1996 at John Adams, Jay finally had the opportunity to take his dream job as a high school ceramics teacher. He took over a struggling program with 2 classes and 41 students. Over 5 years he grew the program to 11 classes and 266 students: exceeding the space available and requiring the hiring of additional teachers. The program continued to grow, and his class was even voted as "the class least likely to skip" by students. In 2001, Jay was nominated by his colleagues as John Adams' "Teacher of the Year," and in 2002 was selected as the Indiana State Teachers Association - Horace Mann "Hoosier Educator of the Year.”

Beyond the classroom, Jay lived a life full of joy and adventure. Together Beth and Jay created a lifetime of memories and built a warm and loving home. It was a familiar sight to see him walking through his neighborhood several times a day and in inclement weather with his faithful and beloved labrador, Lilly. He loved packing the family into the car for cross-country road trips to America's great and beautiful state and national parks, making random pit stops along the way to places like the Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD, or a Runza. Back home he spent time helping his sons, their friends, and their schools with various activities: assisting with Science Olympiad projects, practicing baseball and tennis late into the evenings, or helping with a late-night math study session around the kitchen table. While his sons were in elementary school, he designed and with the help of the students, painted a large calendar mural surrounding the Marshall Elementary School cafeteria.

Memorial services to celebrate Jay's life will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, at the Palmer Funeral Home - Guisinger Chapel, 3718 S. Michigan St., South Bend. Friends and family are invited to gather from 4:00 p.m. until the time of the service. The service will be officiated by Greg Crump.

Jay’s legacy will live on in the countless lives he touched. His guidance, humor, and kind spirit will be deeply missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. In lieu of flowers, charitable donations in Jay’s memory may be made to: Pet Refuge, Inc. 4626 S Burnett Drive, South Bend, IN 46614 (https://www.petrefuge.com) or the American Heart Association (https://mygiving.heart.org/). Jay strongly believed in the importance of public education and that the strength of our society depends on it. The family requests that you support your local public schools, teachers, and students in your communities however you are able. Additionally, he also appreciated his time spent walking and hiking in nature, so please go take a walk and Leave No Trace.

Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.

09/13/2024 EJS