Obituary of Ron Clarke

Ronald Victor Clarke, QC With heavy hearts we announce the peaceful passing of Ron Clarke of Windermere, B.C., on Thursday, January 30th, 2020 at the age of 83. Along with his loving wife Rosemary of 43 years, Ron is survived by his four stepchildren, Bruce (Celia), Brian (Tiffany), Shana and Kathleen, five grandchildren Chad, Daniel, Bryn, Mackenzie and Jorja and two sisters Joan and Shirley. Ron was predeceased by his parents, Edith and Victor Clarke. Ron was born in Montreal, Quebec on January 6th, 1937. He received his BA from Dalhousie University in 1957 and Bachelor of Laws in 1960. After Articles with Macleod Dixon, he was admitted to the Law Society of Alberta in 1961 and awarded a Queen’s Counsel in January of 1998. After a fun filled few years of bachelorhood, he bit the bullet and bravely jumped with both feet into marriage with Rosemary and her four children. Following work on Oil & Gas matters for several years he switched his focus to Condominium Law. In 1966 he formed a very successful law partnership with his longtime friend Derek Jones and in 1969 they were joined by Vic Burstall and Art Coady. He semi-retired in 1982 then reentered law practice in association with Moore, O’Connor, Martin, Iredale & Maitland, moved to Donahue Rondeau and then carried on a private legal practice in association with Heather Bonnycastle. Ron finally retired from active practice in 1998 and in April 2002 he and his wife retired out to the Windermere Valley where he occasionally carried on legal and business activities on a limited scale. He finally put down his pen in April of 2016. Ron had many passions throughout different stages of his life including a love of fine wines, Cuban cigars, the US Civil War and single malt scotch. And…. moving to the Windermere Valley also opened a whole new world for him as he took up golf, became active is several environmental groups and thoroughly enjoyed his “coffee with the boys” almost daily. One of his greatest joys were the yearly cruises with his wife to sunny climates and his “bucket list” freighter trip around the world. A Celebration of Life will be held in Windermere later in the Spring. He will be buried near Kingston, Ontario in a family columbarium. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to a charity of one’s choice. “The arts are not a luxury but a necessity. A life without art is not life but merely bland existence.” - David Bly “When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure.” – Author Unknown Arrangements entrusted to McPherson Funeral Services. Condolences for the family can be offered at: www.mcphersonfh.com