Former Book Committee chairman John Clark dies suddenly

John F. Clark, a former chairman and active member of the National Press Club’s Book and Author Committee, died suddenly Sept. 17.

Clark was a lawyer specializing in environmental law and historic preservation and an important press contact. He was very good at simultaneously explaining and advocating his clients' positions.

From the moment his membership application was accepted in 2003, he worked enthusiastically and tirelessly to bring top-notch authors to the Club. He served as chairman of the Book and Author Committee in 2010.

He also volunteered for several years at the annual Book Fair and Author’s Night, often troubleshooting and then diplomatically solving problems.

Clark was born in 1948 in Salt Lake City. He graduated from Yale University, the University of Utah law school and Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.

He is survived by his wife, a daughter and two sons. One son preceded him in death.

A service and reception will be held at 1 p.m Friday, Sept. 23, at the River Road Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 6301 River Road, Bethesda, Md. Another service and burial will be held in Salt Lake City in October.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Gettysburg Foundation, 1195 Baltimore Pike, P.O. Box 4224, Gettysburg, Pa., 17325-4224.