It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, Larry Clark, age 92. After a long lifetime of accomplishments, he was ready to go. His immediate family camped out at his house during his last days, supporting him and each other.

Larry Clark was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on March 25, 1925. He grew up to be a creative business man: In college he ran a dating service, and it was during a rushed search for a date for a friend that he met Ruthe Sandberg (Chink), who became his wife of fifty-six years. Our father and mother worked as a team, eventually acquiring a travel agency that allowed them to be paid while seeing the sights of the world. He retired after serving as the national president of the American Society for Travel Agents. In 1986 they moved to Lopez, following Dad’s sister, Natalie Roush. Dad was a longtime member of Lions, a member of the Lopez Yacht Club (sans boat), sexton of the Lopez Union Cemetery and author of the once annual April Fool’s column in the Weekly.

Dad was the kind of father every child deserves. While his midwestern background meant that he wasn’t effusive, we knew from myriad small gifts that he loved us deeply. He gave us independence, and curiosity, and a basic desire to make things better. He showed us National Parks, how to build a house, and the value of compound interest.

Larry lost Chink in 2003, and Natalie in April of this year. He is survived by his children, Cass, Skip (Shelly), Marty (Karen) and Tim (Denise), all living on Lopez. His grandchildren are Carrie, Liz, Travis, Alex, Gabe, Jackson, and Carly. He will be sorely missed. This is the value of compounded love.