[YAF-announce] YAF Passing

[Kimberly Allen]

Dearest YAFs,

I hope this letter finds you well.  It is with a heavy heart that I 
write to you all this evening.

I wanted to let you all know that Chris Clark passed away on Tuesday in 
Maine of a car accident.  Though Chris did not attend MidWinter, he was 
very active in YFs and had just become a YAF this past Sessions.  He 
will be deeply missed.

I have pasted his obituary below.

I decided to cancel the YFs retreat this weekend in Cambridge, in part 
so people don't have to choose between this retreat and his memorial 
service.

If there is anything I can do or provide for you, please let me know.

Much love,
Kim



Christopher Michael Clark
AUGUSTA -- Christopher Michael Clark, born Oct. 17, 1987, passed from
this world at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2007, while enjoying his
friends and a drive in an automobile. He died as he lived, playing and
laughing and taking too many risks.

In addition to the friends in his car, he is also survived by his
extraordinary family of blood relatives, love cousins and kindred
spirits: his mother, Jacqui Clark and Meghan Lamey, Debbie Mattson,
Sam Furth and wife Rachel, Abe Furth and wife Heather, Becky Lamey,
Pam Rosen and Bob Mulliken, Gail Clark, Cheryl Clark, Jessica Rosen,
Leslie Rosen, Ben Peirce, Morgan Peirce, David Seville, Linda and Pete
Mattson, Hank Mattson, Teddy Mattson, Nan Bell, Dan Bell, James Bell,
Katie Bell, and his dog with a big neck, Ben.

He was recently predeceased by his maternal grandmother, June Clark 
Skillings.

Christopher was a friend to many as he acted on black-and-white values
of loyalty and valor. He challenged the educational system to deal
with his out-of the-box thinking and his impatience with all things
remotely boring or nonessential. He was an active member in the
Society of Friends (Quakers) at the yearly gatherings and perplexed us
all with his deep spiritual understanding counter imposed on his utter
lack of interest in authority.

Christopher was a basketball coach for two seasons of YMCA biddy ball
when the children only reached his waist. He was a graduate of
Thompson Island Outward Bound. He was a competent rock climber, a
"ripped and buff" weight lifter and spontaneous wrestler. He played
"Love Me Tender, Love Me True," in a piano recital and pleased his
mother with a fabulous tenor voice.

Chris will be remembered for his daring spirit which challenged even
Mother Nature herself when enormous waves prevented his swim in the
Atlantic Ocean.

Please make donations in his memory for youth scholarships to the
Kennebec Valley YMCA, Union Street, Augusta, ME 04330.




-- 
~~Kimberly J. Allen~~
Young Friends/Young Adult Friends Coordinator
New England Yearly Meeting, Religious Society of Friends
(207) 754-9353
yf.yafcoord at neym.org