SEFTON CLARK Obituary

SEFTON ROBINSON CLARK, BEE Sefton Robinson Clark, known to all as "Bee" Clark, passed away peacefully in Honolulu, on February 29, 2024, following a sudden decline, with his wife and soulmate, Alice by his side, as she had been for 44 years. Bee was sociable, humorous, modest, always kind and caring, and beloved by many. He was 74. A fifth generation kama'aina, Sefton was born in Honolulu to Henry B. Clark, Jr. and Geraldine (nee Damon Putnam) Clark, a descendant of the Rev. Samuel C. Damon who arrived in Hawaii in 1842. Bee graduated from Hawaii Loa College, in Kaneohe, Oahu (now part of Hawaii Pacific University), after initially attending an east coast college, a sojourn he referred to decades later as "the biggest mistake of my life." He truly was Hawaii through and through, and carried aloha in his heart. Bee was a proud and devoted alumnus of Hawaii Preparatory Academy ("HPA") at Waimea on the Big Island. A great lover of Hawaii art and artists, Bee worked energetically for years, with his friend, mentor and longtime HPA teacher, Bernard Nogues, organizing and gently encouraging donations to HPA's biennial fine Art Auction and dinner, helping it become a celebrated and anticipated event, raising funds for the school. Following his early years there, the Waimea countryside remained special for Bee for the rest of his life, and he and Alice loved the view from their Waimea home of the Parker Ranch lands on the slopes of Mauna Kea. Bee leaves many dear Waimea friends, who held a place in his heart as he did in theirs. Bee worked for many years at Clark Realty Corporation on the Big Island, of which his older brother Putman ("Putty") Damon Clark was founder and President. Bee and Alice worked inspiringly to memorialize our nation's Marine Corps heroes of WWII. Together, and with Alice's dynamic leadership, they spearheaded the re-creation of Washington D.C.'s famous Iwo Jima Memorial flag raising sculpture at Kaneohe Marine Corps Base on Oahu. They also led the memorialization of the Camp Tarawa Marine Corps training ground in Waimea, resulting in a celebrated monument marking the site and remembering its important history in America's WWII efforts in the Pacific Theater. For these and other efforts, Bee and Alice were named Honorary Marines, a rare honor given to those civilians making "extraordinary contributions" to the Marine Corps. Bee and Alice shared a great love of Hawaiian music and musicians, and enjoyed seeking out live performances and kanikapila. Bee was a long time golfing member of Oahu Country Club and a member of the Pacific Club in Honolulu, where he and Alice spent many happy times, including, of course, enjoying live Hawaiian music. Bee is survived by his beloved wife Alice, and by many cousins, nieces and nephews. Aloha Oe, Bee. May you be now reunited with Henry, Geradine and Putty. Donations may be made in Bee's name to the Clark Family Merit Scholarship Fund at Hawaii Preparatory Academy. Interment will be at Oahu Cemetery for family, with celebrations at a later date in Honolulu and Waimea. Arrangements Provided By: Oahu Cemetary