Nest Clark

Nest Ruth (Garland) Clark, 79, passed on from us just before midnight on Friday, December 5, 2014. She died peacefully with her family at her side. She was a beloved wife, mother and grandmother, and friend to all. This last year was a hard one for her with many trips in and out of the hospital and rehab center, but through it all she remained steadfast in her care for all her children and grandchildren as well as friends and neighbors. Nest was born on April 3, 1935, and raised in Belleville, where she went to school since kindergarten with her future husband, W. Donald Clark. She attended and graduated proudly from Bucknell University in 1957, and became a first grade teacher in North White Plains New York. After she married Donald in 1958, they moved to Rutgers graduate student housing, and while Don completed his doctorate, she worked briefly as a third grade teacher in New Brunswick. In 1960, her son was born and they moved to Lawrence Township, where she settled down to raise her three children, Donnie, Laura, and Deanna. In 1975, she and her family moved to Bound Brook where she finished raising her family. Once her children were grown, she worked part time at Rutgers for the Food Science and Geology departments, and worked twelve years at the Rutgers Campus Ministry. Donald passed on in 1999, and she has been tireless in continuing the family traditions they started together. Nest was passionate about her church and her service to others. She was an active member first at the Belleville Wesley Methodist Church, then at the Lawrence Road Presbyterian Church, and finally at the Presbyterian Church, Bound Brook. She served in whatever capacity she could, including as an Elder, a Deacon, on the Missions committee, Women’s Association, and Church Women United. Her community service included: Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, volunteer teaching, transitional housing volunteer, and working with Hmong Laotian refugees. She also felt strongly about environmental issues and recycling, and was a strong supporter of several environmental groups including the Nature Conservancy. One of mom’s great joys in life was to spend time at Cold Stream Pond in Enfield, Maine, where she has many lifelong friends. She went there every summer as a young girl, and has continued to do so her entire life, passing the tradition on to her children and grandchildren. She also has been blessed to have a wonderful summer house on Glen Wild Lake, New Jersey, where she has many friends and family. Several times in her last few days, she recalled her two best decisions in her life. The first was marrying the love of her life, Donald, and the second was taking each of her eight grandchildren on a separate special trip with just them and her: Philip to Zion National Park, Utah; Cassidy to Oklahoma Indian Reservation, Oklahoma; Dylan to San Diego, California; Joey to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; Robin to Ozark Ranch, Missouri; Pamela to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Sally to San Francisco, California and William to San Antonio, Texas. Along with the grandchildren, she is survived by her son Donald Clark, Jr., and his wife Faith of Long Branch, and her daughters Laura Gilligan and her fiancé Steven Moshinsky of Flemington, and Deanna Clark of Bloomingdale. A memorial service will be held 10:00 A.M. Saturday, December 13, at the Presbyterian Church, 409 Mountain Avenue, Bound Brook,. A reception will follow with family visitation until 2:00 P.M. Donations in Nest’s name may be made to the Presbyterian Church, the Natural Resources Council of Maine, or your local food bank or animal shelter.