Birth date: May 21, 1947 Death date: Mar 6, 2021
E. Clark Mester, Jr. loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, brother in law, and uncle passed away peacefully at home on March 6, 2021 surrounded by family. He is survived by his wife of 51 years Kathleen Mester, son Christi Read Obituary
Kathy,
I always admired you from St. Camillus. I very much enjoyed catching up w/ you and Clark at our St. Cam. (41st ?) reunion at Jerry Villela's restaurant. I was just wondering about both of you today and came upon these condolences for Clark. I am so sorry for your loss and will keep you and your family in my prayers.
Ann Moloney McKerrow, Ottawa, Cananda
Clark was a star football player but he like hanging out with us non-athletic types. He was a real person. He had a great sense of humor. We had some good times together. I really admired him during my Villanova years. So sorry to hear of his passing yesterday. My best to his family. Steve Grado
Mr. Mester, a man I truly thought a lot of and have a great respect and appreciation for. I Learned a great deal from his teachings...not just about fine arts & sculpting but about life in general.. . How to think critically as well as outside of the box. We had several great talks that stuck with me well after college, and I feel enriched to have known him. My sincerest condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues. -Eric Pinder (BSU Fine Arts graduate, 2000.)
My condolences to the the family of Clark Mester. He was a great coach, teacher and friend. Thanks Clark for all your support. May he rest in PEACE. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
Donald Ball, Dematha class of 1972,and Bowie State College 1977
“ To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson
You don’t meet many people with the quality of character that Clark had. I think that rubbed onto his children and is why his son Christian quickly became a bestie when we met my freshman year in college nearly thirty years ago. From then, we became family, and Clark and the Mesters became my family too. From Thanksgiving to other visits to Maryland/DC I spent a lot of time with the Mesters, even sleeping in the angel room, and I’m so grateful for the warmth and love with which they all embraced me. If I had to choose just one adjective for Clark, warm is the one that sticks with me the most. I admired Clark so much for his gentleness but also his complexity. Football coach and artist, father and chef, gentle human, but also with a strong political edge. I knew we were on the same page at Thanksgiving should politics come up. We could argue, or fume quietly together 😂. He would cook me a special main meal of salmon when I didn’t eat turkey. He was such a good cook and I’d ask him for recipes and culinary advice. The salmon story always comes up in my memory because he always went through extra effort to welcome me, to accommodate me, to make me feel special and loved. This is something I value so much about the whole Mester family and especially Clark! All I know of him is love and warmth and kindness. He gifted me with one of his beautiful masks and would show me all his art sculptures with pride. I’ve attached photos from our last physical visit together nearly five years ago... My pregnancy (here in Cape Town, South Africa) followed with early motherhood and then the Covid pandemic sadly blocked another visit, but I’m so grateful for technology and that Kathy arranged videochats (photos attached too) for us during Clark’s last months, despite the global time challenges, and that my daughter Juliette, Christian’s goddaughter, could meet this wonderful man and him, her. Christian and I have been friends through my own father’s passing, and Jock and Nunu, and Nana and Pops, his father-in-law Jim, and I can’t leave out Madchen (doggie), and now Clark. There is sadness in all their losses, but this one hurts the most (besides of course for me my own dad’s passing). I was grateful to have the opportunity to knowingly be saying farewell to Clark in the calls we had and the messages we shared, to express my love and appreciation for him. I send my deep love and heartfelt condolences to all the Mester family and my thoughts are with all who love and miss him, especially Kathy, Christian, Steph, Erin, Tina, Laney, Colin and Tess with whom I’ve shared most of my memories of Clark, but also to those not mentioned here. Rest In Peace Clark and wishing strength and comfort to all who mourn your loss. We can all be comforted by the knowledge that in you we got to be close to humanity and goodness ❤️
When i came to Bowie State as a nursing major i knew that it wasn’t for me. My life changed the day i walked into your classroom. You were always pushing us to be the best we could, not just in your class but outside of school as well.
You always had a way of making us laugh and given us the advice that we need. You were one of the bright lights at Bowie state. Thank you for being who you were, thank you do our many talks, and the many memories we created
