Robert Jenkins Clark

Robert Jenkins Clark, Ph.D., of Southampton died on December 28 at Southampton Hospital. He was 95.

Born May 19, 1913, in Chicago, Illinois, he was raised in California and spent his summers surfing and swimming in Hawaii. According to family, he approached life with fearless vigor and vitality. Upon completion of high school at the young age of 16, he embarked on a world tour with his mother, traveling into unmapped territories—an experience that would shape the rest of his life.

He graduated from Stanford University with a bachelor of arts in psychology. While at Stanford, he became passionate about baseball and football and played on the Stanford football team. He later qualified as a swimmer on the 1932 U.S. Olympic team in Los Angeles.

He went on to train at West Point, where duty, honor and country became his creed. Survivors recalled that Dr. Clark took the utmost pride in his involvement at West Point, noting that his experience there shaped how he viewed himself. It lead him to a military career and his work at Texaco Research Laboratories and Pan Am Airways.

Although his formal military experience ended with an honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy, he conducted the rest of his life with the discipline and training he gained from these former experiences.

Among his many accomplishments, including earning a master’s degree in engineering from Harvard University and a doctorate in economics from New York University, he was a master in tae kwon do and co-author of two books, “Korean Karate: The Art of Tae Kwon Do” and “Black Belt Karate.” His literary works also included more than 2,000 published articles, including a weekly newspaper column on horse racing that allowed him to travel extensively, thus combining his love of travel and horse racing.

He went on to assume the positions of professor of economics and karate teacher at West Point, Princeton University, Brown University, Fordham University, New York University and Providence College. Later, he taught economics at Suffolk Community College and finally at Dowling College until the age of 89.

As an economist, he focused on international investment, working in Thailand, India, Spain and Portugal. Through his extensive world travel he developed a small network of friendships, which he maintained in various countries throughout his life.

Family said this week that he was daring, bold and fearless, and enjoyed horse racing and race car driving with a passion. He took enormous pride in his Daytona and Testarossa Ferraris and his artistic skill in maneuvering them. He fondly named the Testarossa “Francesca” and refused to let her go before his death.

According to family, his determination to live life to the fullest was governed by producing more than consuming; and though many misinterpreted his philosophy, he always made a conscious not to deplete the world’s resources, which he always said were in limited supply.

His family recalled that Dr. Clark lived a magnificent and dignified life, determined to steer his own course. They added that he was a teacher of life, skill and wisdom who took great pride in his students. The impact he had on them is evident, they said, in the way in which they honor his life lessons. Many of them went on to become recognized experts in their fields.

A wake was held on January 2 at Brockett Funeral Home in Southampton and a funeral service officiated by the Reverend Peter Larsen was held on January 3 at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Southampton. Interement was private.