Passages: Remembering Isaac Clark

Isaac Clark, a senior here at Lewis & Clark, died on October 17, 2011 of injuries sustained in a skateboarding accident. A memorial service and celebration of his life planned by some of Isaac’s friends among the student body and faculty will be held on Wednesday, November 2 in the Agnes Flanagan Chapel. A reception will follow in the Diane Gregg Pavilion.

Isaac made a significant impact on our community with his intense passion for life and learning. He was a physics and math major and achieved the highest academic honor of induction into the Phi Beta Kappa Society at Lewis & Clark as a junior; he was also a member of Sigma Pi Sigma, a national Physics Honor Society. In addition to math and physics, Isaac enjoyed studying philosophy, psychology, religion, science fiction, and government. Isaac spent his last two summers engaged in scientific research programs—the summer of 2010 at Lewis & Clark studying astronomy, and the summer of 2011 at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania studying optics.

Isaac was born in Everett, Washington and moved to Keizer before his first birthday. He attended Keizer Christian Preschool, Clearlake Elementary, Whiteaker MS, and McNary HS, where he was a 2008 valedictorian. His family recalls that at the age of three Isaac expressed his desire to achieve and to be “special.” Isaac was known for studying many hours beyond the school day. He grew up playing soccer, football, basketball, and baseball. Introduced to a drum set at age 13, Isaac entertained his family daily with his self-taught skills- later playing the drums for services at Salem First Christian Church and with his high school band, “Zombie Warrior Enterprise.” He took drum and piano lessons at Lewis & Clark and performed in a variety of musical ensembles.

There are a variety of ways Isaac deeply touched those he encountered here at Lewis & Clark, but without exception both students and faculty were struck by his intelligence and intense passion. Isaac loved to read and surrounded himself with an eclectic collection of books, and he especially liked engaging with his friends and family in conversations on a myriad of topics. He enjoyed having fun, and when he wasn’t in class or studying he wanted to be with his family and friends. Isaac is deeply missed, and he will always be remembered for his intensely loving and kind heart along with his vibrant personality and smile.