Obituary for Andrew Alfred Dominy "Andy" Clarke
Clarke, Andrew Alfred Dominy
April 13, 1927 - December 29, 2023
December 29, 2023, Andrew A. D. Clarke, 96, passed away peacefully at Perley Health, Ottawa, with family by his side.
Andy was born on April 13, 1927, to John and Dorothy Clarke of Kelowna, British Columbia. He was predeceased by his younger brother, Kenneth Clarke, and by his first wife, Mary Caslake / Clarke (nee Simmons). Survived by his children David Clarke (Janet) and Cynthia Clarke McKellar (Nick), his four grandchildren Robert Clarke, Katherine McKellar (Dennis), Joanna Court (Dale), Gillian McKenzie (Daniel), and three great grandchildren, Dow, Olivia and Ailsa. Also survived by his second wife Elizabeth Clarke.
Andy grew up on a farm and fruit orchard in Kelowna, B.C. Although his early years were marred by the Great Depression and an exceedingly poor lifestyle, he worked hard and excelled in school. In 1946 Andy joined the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and in 1947 he was accepted with a scholarship into the Royal Roads Military College,Victoria, B.C. Andy graduated in 1949 and immediately trained as an air navigator at Summerside, P.E.I. He subsequently served as a navigation instructor in Winnipeg, before being posted to Ottawa as a navigation leader of 408 Squadron (partially known for mapping the Arctic), and other administrative positions at National Defence Headquarters. In 1963 Andy was posted to the RCAF Staff College in Toronto. His graduation thesis, Security in the Nuclear Age, proved to be a turning point that shaped his future career.
In 1965 Andy was granted an early retirement by the RCAF to become Executive Director of the World Federalists of Canada (WFC), a non governmental organization that supports and strengthens the United Nations. His tenure at WFC was a successful one. He tripled the Canadian membership which included over 100 Members of Parliament and Senators. In 1968 he became the Secretary General of the World Association of World Federalists (WAWF). In 1974 Andy left his position at WAWF and joined the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada and was subsequently appointed as PIPS Chairman. During his later years and well into retirement Andy also served as editor of Proceedings, the Journal of the Canadian Association for the Club of Rome, a non-profit global think tank with an objective to further the sustainability of the global ecosystem, including the survival of humanity.
Andy was a recognized author who wrote two histories of his family, one of which received a first prize in genealogy, Whindyke - The Life and Times of a Scottish Family. In 2012, Andy received a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in recognition for his outstanding contributions to Canada.
Despite a very successful career that spanned many decades and enjoying retirement years at the cottage on Benson Lake, ON and a home in Florida, Andy maintained a desire to ‘return to the land’. Well into his eighties he did just that! He purchased a 75 acre farm in Balderson, ON, designed and built an environmentally sound home and planted large gardens with several fruit trees. It pleased Andy enormously that much of what he grew was donated to the Lanark Food Bank.
Andy passed away peacefully and happy. While the advanced stages of dementia took away his memory, he never forgot his early beginnings and his love of the land. Weekly visits with his children ensured he knew his grandchildren and great grandchildren, and the confidence of knowing his legacy lives on. Rest in peace, Tip Top Pop! You will be missed.
Condolences & Tributes: www.crgamble.com
April 13, 1927 - December 29, 2023
December 29, 2023, Andrew A. D. Clarke, 96, passed away peacefully at Perley Health, Ottawa, with family by his side.
Andy was born on April 13, 1927, to John and Dorothy Clarke of Kelowna, British Columbia. He was predeceased by his younger brother, Kenneth Clarke, and by his first wife, Mary Caslake / Clarke (nee Simmons). Survived by his children David Clarke (Janet) and Cynthia Clarke McKellar (Nick), his four grandchildren Robert Clarke, Katherine McKellar (Dennis), Joanna Court (Dale), Gillian McKenzie (Daniel), and three great grandchildren, Dow, Olivia and Ailsa. Also survived by his second wife Elizabeth Clarke.
Andy grew up on a farm and fruit orchard in Kelowna, B.C. Although his early years were marred by the Great Depression and an exceedingly poor lifestyle, he worked hard and excelled in school. In 1946 Andy joined the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and in 1947 he was accepted with a scholarship into the Royal Roads Military College,Victoria, B.C. Andy graduated in 1949 and immediately trained as an air navigator at Summerside, P.E.I. He subsequently served as a navigation instructor in Winnipeg, before being posted to Ottawa as a navigation leader of 408 Squadron (partially known for mapping the Arctic), and other administrative positions at National Defence Headquarters. In 1963 Andy was posted to the RCAF Staff College in Toronto. His graduation thesis, Security in the Nuclear Age, proved to be a turning point that shaped his future career.
In 1965 Andy was granted an early retirement by the RCAF to become Executive Director of the World Federalists of Canada (WFC), a non governmental organization that supports and strengthens the United Nations. His tenure at WFC was a successful one. He tripled the Canadian membership which included over 100 Members of Parliament and Senators. In 1968 he became the Secretary General of the World Association of World Federalists (WAWF). In 1974 Andy left his position at WAWF and joined the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada and was subsequently appointed as PIPS Chairman. During his later years and well into retirement Andy also served as editor of Proceedings, the Journal of the Canadian Association for the Club of Rome, a non-profit global think tank with an objective to further the sustainability of the global ecosystem, including the survival of humanity.
Andy was a recognized author who wrote two histories of his family, one of which received a first prize in genealogy, Whindyke - The Life and Times of a Scottish Family. In 2012, Andy received a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in recognition for his outstanding contributions to Canada.
Despite a very successful career that spanned many decades and enjoying retirement years at the cottage on Benson Lake, ON and a home in Florida, Andy maintained a desire to ‘return to the land’. Well into his eighties he did just that! He purchased a 75 acre farm in Balderson, ON, designed and built an environmentally sound home and planted large gardens with several fruit trees. It pleased Andy enormously that much of what he grew was donated to the Lanark Food Bank.
Andy passed away peacefully and happy. While the advanced stages of dementia took away his memory, he never forgot his early beginnings and his love of the land. Weekly visits with his children ensured he knew his grandchildren and great grandchildren, and the confidence of knowing his legacy lives on. Rest in peace, Tip Top Pop! You will be missed.
Condolences & Tributes: www.crgamble.com