James N. Clark, 77, died Feb. 23 from complications related to Parkinson’s disease while vacationing in San Juan, Puerto Rico, with his partner of 45 years, Anthony A. Lyle.
Clark was a former vice president and associate creative director of the Philly-based ad agency Lewis, Gilman & Kynett Inc. He was also a passionate HIV/AIDS activist, volunteering much of his free time at local organizations like Calcutta House, an HIV/AIDS facility in West Philadelphia.
Clark started volunteering at Calcutta House at the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the 1980s. He and his partner went on to become board members, and were an integral part of the facility’s daily operations for many years.
“Jim and Tony were longtime donors and extremely supportive of the Calcutta House mission,” said Calcutta executive director Kim McGrory. “They frequently attended fundraising events. We will miss him dearly.”
When they weren’t volunteering, the couple loved to travel, often to remote locations.
Recently, they spent time in a rented boat on the Shannon River in Ireland and spent a week atop a mountain in Santorini, Greece.
Clark was born in Glenn Falls, N.Y., and graduated from Hiran College in Ohio. He went on to attend the Naval Officer Candidate School in Newport, R.I., and served in Saigon near the start of the Vietnam War, earning the rank of lieutenant, junior grade, before he was honorably discharged.
In addition to Lyle, Clark is survived by a sister and a niece.
His funeral was held March 5 at St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church in Rittenhouse Square.
Donations may be made in his memory to Calcutta House, 1601 W. Girard Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. 19130.