Clark W. Maser

September 30, 1925 - December 20, 2022

Clark Maser, a lifetime resident of San Francisco and Ross, died aged 97 in Littleton, NH. Born in Chicago, Clark was raised by Lewis Maser who – due to the Depression – had lost his sales job with Dennison Paper; thus, shoveled boiler coal for spare change at their boarding house. His mother, Helen Thorpe, taught elementary school in South Chicago, and was paid in script (IOUs) since Illinois lacked funds to compensate employees. Clark enlisted on his 18th birthday, riding the trolley to Los Angeles’ recruiting center through what use to be Orange County’s prolific orange groves. He served with B Company of the 410th Regiment, 103rd Infantry Division, in France. His actions on November 29th, 1944, as his Company’s messenger and French interpreter, earned him a Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and ultimately the Legion d’Honneur: despite intense mortar fire that nearly annihilated B Company, Clark carried out his courier duties till he was finally wounded by two successive shrapnel rounds in each thigh, and, a third on his left hip as stretcher bearers rushed him to a field hospital

Initially Clark attended the California Institute of Technology in 1943 via the Army’s Specialized Training Program for individuals with high aptitude. Following the War, though, he matriculated to the University of California, Berkeley, majoring in Political Science. He served multiple roles in student body governance: first as Chairman of the Welfare Commission, then as a Representative at Large, which entailed a seat on the Executive Committee of Associated Students. As a Representative he helped organize a boycott of the local bowling alley. The alley only allowed African-Americans to pin set, yet, not play. The boycott prevailed. Athletically, despite a 60% Army discharge disability rating, Clark played varsity tennis – a sport that remained a lifelong passion. He hit avidly till he was 88. And, obtained a lifetime membership at San Francisco’s Cal Club – which given his frugality (no annual dues), was one aging milestone he was quite proud of.

Clark graduated from Cal in 1948. Following Harvard Law School, he returned to the Bay Area in 1951 to start his legal career with Athearn, Chandler, & Hoffman, at the time San Francisco’s oldest law firm. In 1983, Clark began a solo practice in estate planning, trusts, real estate, and tax law. His legal representation included numerous nonprofits: the San Francisco Symphony Foundation, the World Affairs Council of Northern California, the Sierra Club, and the Sierra Club Legal Foundation.

With a lifelong interest for civic engagement, Clark undertook a variety of roles at San Francisco institutions. He was the President, a Trustee, and member of the Board of Governors of the San Francisco Symphony Foundation; Chairman of the Board of the World Affairs Council of Northern California, as well as Acting Executive Director; President and Trustee of the Mechanic’s Institute & Library; Chairman of the San Francisco Committee of Council on Foreign Relations; served on the Advisory Council, Institute of International Studies, University of California, Berkeley; President of the Harvard Club of San Francisco; Northern California Chairman of the Harvard Law School Fund; Director of the San Francisco Chapter of the English Speaking Union; Trustee of the San Francisco International Diplomacy Center, and at his seasonal property in Vermont, President of the Greensboro Association, as well as a member of the Advisory Board of the Greensboro Land Trust.

Clark’s significant lifetime accomplishments from humble beginnings belie what he will truly be remembered for. He had boundless energy, of which one aspect entailed starting each day with calisthenics taught at boot camp, making the whole Vallejo Street house shake with each jumping jack. Clark stuck to this regime till his final days – faithfully performing his morning routine, but now from the wheelchair he spent his last 4-years in.

His undeterred determination and will stayed with him even in his final days, as he always asked if he could be of assistance notwithstanding the reality he was wheelchair bound. A truly iconic embodiment of the traits that made America’s “Greatest Generation” great: service above self. Additionally, he was blessed with incredible wit, often accompanied by a wink, along with a dazzling twinkle of his brown eyes. In conjunction with a mostly toothless smile by the time he crossed 97. Even in his final hours, as he entered death’s deep slumber, he awoke, looked over at his youngest son of 54 years to jokingly say, “And, who are you?”

He had a great fondness for travel, which correlated to his ever-present curiosity. Notable endeavors included leading the first World Affairs Council Delegation to China in 1977 as well as another Delegation to Cuba in 1996. Further, despite questionable skiing ability, but indicative of his incredible generosity, Clark took both his sons when 14 on week long helicopter ski trips to British Columbia. In his final year, after a beautiful drive through the snowcovered White Mountains of New Hampshire, while being tucked into bed from his wheelchair, he reflected on the day, “Oh, how I wish I could hike to the top of a peak with my camera still.” His spirit will live on with his ashes interned next to his first wife of 25-years, and true love, Nancy Thomas, who died 41-years ago of ovarian cancer. They will eternally rest side by side in a colonial graveyard adjacent to their beloved Lake Caspian in Vermont. Service to occur in the summer of 2023. Clark is survived by two sons, Hill Carter Maser, of Santa Clara, and Minot Clark Maser, of New Hampshire and Montana, as well as his step-daughter Page Hartwell of New York City and step-son, Tony Hartwell, of Fort Collins.