Last Trips: Tribute to Sid Clark

[Ralph]

Last trips:

Not in the Wanderlodge, but on the road through life. Reporting to
this Forum of the passing of a fellow Birder is one of the hardest
things to ever do. Sid Clark of the Dallas Texas area, a member of
the Lone Star Birds and various other groups, has passed into another
venue. Born in June of 1947, his passing is at an all too early age
of 58. Sid is survived by his loving wife Juanita and a son, two
daughters, his mother, and of course Joe-dog, the flopsy mopsy side
kick with a personality like his owner, and who remained at his side
even in the hospital.

This writer will never forget the pleasure of meeting this
outstanding individual the first time, a few years or so ago. Sid and
Juanita had just purchased their first Bird and the Lone Star Birds
were having a rally in Perrin TX. Into the campground Sid flew!
Parking that Bird on almost a dime, the brake set, the transmission
in neutral, he bounced out of that Bird, came walking up to me with
his hand out, a huge smile on his face and glowing like a new
expectant father. "Hi, I am Sid Clark" he exclaimed as he shook my
hand, that infectious smile getting broader by the moment. He
explained how he had been polishing the wheels and buffing the entire
Coach before coming to the rally. Now there are handshakes and then
there was a handshake by Sid Clark. Being a maintenance tech, the
forearms thick and muscled, you knew your hand had been pressed. Yep,
that first meeting left an impression that is still with me this day.
Sid, a man whom could be counted upon in lending a hand, a word, or
just diving right in no matter the task and the only question would
be, "Where do you want to start?"

A friend, wait, the word friend does not really do this man justice
for Sid was more than a friend to many of us. He touched our hearts
with the up beat of his being, the knowledge stored away in memory
and the ease of the way he presented ideas, suggestions and help.

Miss him, certainly, but gone, hardly, so long as I am around Bird's
my thoughts will drift back to something Sid had to say, and in
remembering that smile, it always brings a smile to this writer at
the thought of it.

It was refreshing, to all who had the pleasure to meet and share a
campfire with Sid. His personality was always so constantly up beat
and confident. And so he remained on the last trip in a short
lifespan.

[Scott]

Thanks Ralph, in times like this it can be hard to find the positive.
Once again you have done just that. The Blue Bird family and the
Lonestar Bird have truly lost a special friend. He will be missed by
many! Please pass condolences on to Juanita from Judi and me.

Scott B and Judi A
South Carolina


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Ralph" wrote:
>
> Last trips:
>
> Not in the Wanderlodge, but on the road through life. Reporting to
> this Forum of the passing of a fellow Birder is one of the hardest
> things to ever do. Sid Clark of the Dallas Texas area, a member of
> the Lone Star Birds and various other groups, has passed into
another
> venue. Born in June of 1947, his passing is at an all too early age
> of 58. Sid is survived by his loving wife Juanita and a son, two
> daughters, his mother, and of course Joe-dog, the flopsy mopsy side
> kick with a personality like his owner, and who remained at his
side
> even in the hospital.
>
> This writer will never forget the pleasure of meeting this
> outstanding individual the first time, a few years or so ago. Sid
and
> Juanita had just purchased their first Bird and the Lone Star Birds
> were having a rally in Perrin TX. Into the campground Sid flew!
> Parking that Bird on almost a dime, the brake set, the transmission
> in neutral, he bounced out of that Bird, came walking up to me with
> his hand out, a huge smile on his face and glowing like a new
> expectant father. "Hi, I am Sid Clark" he exclaimed as he shook my
> hand, that infectious smile getting broader by the moment. He
> explained how he had been polishing the wheels and buffing the
entire
> Coach before coming to the rally. Now there are handshakes and then
> there was a handshake by Sid Clark. Being a maintenance tech, the
> forearms thick and muscled, you knew your hand had been pressed.
Yep,
> that first meeting left an impression that is still with me this
day.
> Sid, a man whom could be counted upon in lending a hand, a word, or
> just diving right in no matter the task and the only question would
> be, "Where do you want to start?"
>
> A friend, wait, the word friend does not really do this man justice
> for Sid was more than a friend to many of us. He touched our hearts
> with the up beat of his being, the knowledge stored away in memory
> and the ease of the way he presented ideas, suggestions and help.
>
> Miss him, certainly, but gone, hardly, so long as I am around
Bird's
> my thoughts will drift back to something Sid had to say, and in
> remembering that smile, it always brings a smile to this writer at
> the thought of it.
>
> It was refreshing, to all who had the pleasure to meet and share a
> campfire with Sid. His personality was always so constantly up beat
> and confident. And so he remained on the last trip in a short
> lifespan.
>

[Jo-Ski]

Dear Ralph (and all),

Thank you so very much for such a moving tribute to Sid. We also never had the
pleasure of meeting him, but as others have said, he sounds like the kind of
wonderful person one loves to meet, the kind of warm, sunny person of whom one
would say that you "bask in his company."

Something another Blue Birder just said brought John Donne's "No man is an
island" meditation to mind--specifically, the part that said, "any man's death
diminishes me. . ." And, it seems that with Sid's passing, this must so
fervently and profoundly apply to the Blue Bird community:
". . .all mankind is of one author, and is one volume; when one man dies, one
chapter is not torn out of the book, but translated into a better language; and
every chapter must be so translated...As therefore the bell that rings to a
sermon, calls not upon the preacher only, but upon the congregation to come: so
this bell calls us all...No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a
piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of
thy friend's or of thine own were. Any man's death diminishes me, because I am
involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
it tolls for thee..." John Donne, Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions, 1624

Please pass our deepest condolences and sincerest sympathy to Juanita and the
rest of Sid's family.

Jo-Ski (and Stew)
"The Bird Abides"
'83-FC 35 RB
Blaine, WA

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[jimocon]

We only met Sid once-at the Lone Star Bird Rally last June, north of
Dallas. We had read Sid's posts on the forum and everyone at the rally
was hoping Sid and Juanita would be able to come to the rally. So we
were really looking forward to seeing them. And we were so glad they
were able to come. As usual at these rallies we exchanged visits at
each others Bird and Sid and Juanita were so very nice to us newbies.
We are so glad to have met Sid and Juanita and we wish Juanita all the
best.
Jim & Pen