Brian Clarke - Online Obituary
I completely stumbled on this by accident. Can't say this enough, Brian really was a gentleman.
http://www.legacy.com/can-montreal/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=17974302
Since the link will probably expire some day here it is:
OBITUARY J. BRIAN CLARKE Passed away peacefully at the Jewish General Hospital on June 2, 2006 aged sixty-seven years. Loving and devoted husband of Mary Di Palma. Dear father of Mark Esposito, Johanna (Mark Hekimian) and Krystina (Luc Beaudoin). Cherished grandfather of Tatyana, Brianna, Kamron and Catherine. Survived by his sister Linda (William Bertram) of Toronto. He will be sadly missed by his loving relatives and dear friends. Brian, while a native Torontonian, fell in love with and adopted Montreal as his city when he first arrived in 1967. He had a life-long fascination with toys of all sorts. An avid model train builder, Brian worked in the toy industry for many years, moving to New York City in 1983 and rising to become Chief Executive of Coleco, a major North American toy manufacturer. He 'discovered' the famous "Cabbage Patch Kids" and had the foresight and skill to lead the promotion of his "kids" to become one of the most successful in the history of children's dolls. At the time of his death, Brian was Executive Vice-President of Strategy First, a leading computer games creator and manufacturer. He firmly believed in giving back to his communities and fellow citizens: He was Vice Chairman of the Constance Lethbridge Foundation, Director of Stanstead College, immediate past Vice-Chair and Elder of Mountainside United Church and past Chair of the Board of Management of Erskine & American United Church. He was an active member of The Opimium Society and the Whiff of Grape. For over twenty-five years, Brian's home-away-from-home has been his summer residence at Bark Lake, Quebec. The perennial Mayor of the town of Barkmere, he showed his love of the area and of its residents by giving untold hours to the preservation of its environment and the life style he enjoyed so much. Visitation at the Kane & Fetterly Funeral Home, 5301 Decarie Blvd. (corner Isabella) on Monday from 7 to 9 p.m. A Service of celebration of Brian's life will be held at the Mountainside United Church (The Boulevard & Roslyn, Westmount) on Tuesday, June 6 at 12 noon. Special thanks to Dr. Gyger and the hematology/oncology department, and to Dr. Lapointe and the palliative care unit. In lieu of flowers, donations to be made to the J. Brian Clarke Fund at the Jewish General Hospital Foundation, 3755 Cote Ste-Catherine Rd., Montreal, QC H3T 1E2.
Published in the Montreal Gazette from 6/4/2006 - 6/5/2006.
I'll always remember the Christmas parties at his home in Montreal. He was so proud that he owned the former home of N.R. Crump (a former president of Canadian Pacific Raliways) and invariably showed guests Mr Crump's name carved in wood in his basement. I also had the pleasure to attend one mgmt meeting at his Bark lake retreat, which was a beautiful place accessible only by boat.
Brian was a pioneer in the toy industry and responsible for many of the toys and games we now take for granted. There isn't anyone (albeit middle aged) that doesn't remember Coleco. Thank you Brian, you brought so much joy to so many little kids and lotsa big kids too!! (Comment this)
Although I only met you father once (1988), please accept my deepest sympathy on your loss. He’s lucky to have had you as a daughter.
- Tom Davis
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