William F. Clark

William F. Clark, of Waltham, died Friday, October 18, 2024 at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston following a period of declining health. He was 73.

A son of the late Francis and Margaret (Nersesian) Clark, he was a 1969 graduate of Newton High School and four years later received his bachelor’s degree from UMass in Amherst. Bill later earned his master’s degree from Boston University. Born in Waltham and raised in Newton, Bill was a lifelong educator. He was an extraordinary educator mastering all the sciences including kinesiology and physiology. For 32 years he taught at the Arlington School in Belmont. He was able to adapt his high level of knowledge to the most challenged student.

Bill's wide range of talent led him to the Reagle Players in Waltham, singing and dancing, stunt work in Hollywood, he anchored the two-man bobsled for the Armenian team in the Lake Placid world games. He loved the hiking trips with his brother Rick to British Columbia and New Hampshire along with touring Civil War battle fields and the Smithsonian in Washington, DC. He loved running the trails. But his highest accolades belong in track and field. Keith McDermott, Vice Chairman on the Board of Governors for the BAA and former Executive Director of the Reggie Lewis Center describes Bill as a trail blazer in bringing in the highest level of post collegiate athletes to compete in New England track and field.

Bill's track career began as a hurdler at Newton High School under legendary Coach LaMoine Boyle. An outstanding hurdler, he took his career to UMass-Amherst. After college, Bill had a passion for coaching and promoting the sport he dearly loved. He coached both at Waltham and Newton North High Schools with his dear friend Joe Tranchita and collegiately at Boston University and Bentley College. Bill competed in the Greater Boston Track Club and then founded the Commonwealth Athletics Association, a haven for New England-based hurdlers and sprinters. His desire to bring in world class athletes resulted in him founding the GBTC Invitational and eventually the Commonwealth Invitational which he presided over for 19 years.

Larry Newman, the regions most renowned historian, statistician and announcer for track and field in the Northeast, described Coach Clark as the most prominent and highly regarded meet director in New England. "He brought in world class athletes and Olympians to compete. He also hosted the TAC 200/400-meter world indoor championships and the "Twilight series" for athletes competing to obtain qualifying times for USA Olympic Championships and USA Olympic trials." Bill served as President of the US Track Meet Directors Association.

His proudest moment was in 1992, in the middle of the MIAA High School indoor championships, the meet was interrupted to host the first Masters mile where Eamonn Coghlan, at age 41, broke the four-minute master mile clocking in at 3:58.15.

Brian Crossman, legendary Acton-Boxboro coach, who trained under Bill and competed in the USA 1990 Indoor Championships, recalled him as being an innovator before his time, teaching the "Dynamic Stretch," 30 years before it was established as the standard for today's athletes.

Bill was a voracious reader and a genius at the computer. Most impressive was his service to his family.

He passionately cared for his sister who is suffering from Alzheimer's disease. He was the father figure for his nephew Patrick and is well known for his devotion to friends. Bill's army of friends include all walks of life. Passionate and principled, he will be sorely missed.

He leaves his brother and sister, Richard J. Clark of Tyngsboro and Virginia M. Feeley of Waltham; his nephew and niece, Patrick Feely and Kelly Plouffe (Joseph) and his grandniece, Charlotte Plouffe.

Family and friends will honor and remember Bill’s life by gathering for an Evening Wake on Thursday, October 24th from 4 to 7 p.m. in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham and again at 10 a.m. on Friday morning before leaving in procession to Sacred Heart Church, 311 River Street, Waltham where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made toBrigham and Women's Hospital Cardiology, 263 Huntington Avenue, #318, Boston, MA 02115-4506 www.brighamandwomens.org