SOUTH PORTLAND- On Sunday December 10, 2023, Peter Clark passed away peacefully surrounded by his children and loved ones after a brief illness. He was 76 years old.
Peter was born on June 28, 1947, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania into a military family. He spent his early years moving between military bases in locations such as Virginia, Washington D.C., Texas, California, and Guam. He attended Fork Union Military school in Virginia, served four years in the Air Force and graduated from Casco Bay College in Portland, Maine. Peter met the love of his life, Rosemary, on Peaks Island, Maine. They married in 1970 in New Jersey and then moved to South Portland, Maine to raise their family. Peter became the foreman at Rufus Deering where he met many of his lifelong friends. He later went into insurance and real estate sales before he and Rosemary bought their first of many convenience stores. Their longest running store was Broadway Getty Mart on the corner of Broadway and Sawyer Street in South Portland. Peter and Rosemary became a popular staple of the Ferry Village area of South Portland; the Clark family was known for being personable, kind and generous business owners. Not only was Peter a successful businessman, he was a loving father who was adored by his children. His weekends were spent watching hockey and football with his boys; he sat adoringly through a torturous amount of dance competitions for his youngest daughter; and his trips to San Diego to visit his oldest daughter and granddaughter were among his favorite memories. Some of his other favorite past-times were: frequent visits from his niece and best buddy Lydia, summers on Peaks Island, and his weekly lunch dates with the friends he made on the island many years ago.
Peter was a friendly and outgoing person who could always find common ground with anyone through his stories. He loved talking with people of all walks of life and was known to give excellent advice using his positive outlook and grateful attitude to encourage others. He had a great sense of humor and often used sarcasm and wit to fill each room with laughter. His generosity was unmatched and he was always willing to lend a hand to anyone in need. Peter always considered himself fortunate after surviving a lung transplant in 2011; he lived every single day with gratitude. He was truly one of a kind, and his spirited energy will be missed by all.
Peter is predeceased by his loving wife Rosemary Clark; his parents Capt. William and Eleanor Clark; his brother William Clark; his son Jeffrey Schultes; and his sister-in-law Eileen Anderson. He is survived by his children William Clark and his partner Lisa Gunn, Amy Salinas and her husband Sergio, Jennifer Rodrigue and her husband Jeffrey, and Daniel Clark; his grandchildren Sofie, Eden, Dominic and Landon; his brother Michael Clark and his wife Nancy; his sister Abigail Fisher and her husband Larry; his sisters-in-law Margret Folland and her husband Jim, and Donna Lavery; his brothers-in-law Timothy Lavery and his partner Nancy, and Thomas Lavery; his many nieces and nephews; and Deanna Dyer-Hight, a very dear friend of the family and someone Peter lovingly called his “adopted daughter”.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Chad E. Poitras Cremation and Funeral Service, Buxton, www.mainefuneral.com
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