Barry Huckins Clark Sr. passed away on March 17, 2021 in Winter Haven, FL, surrounded by his family and friends. He passed peacefully after a long and hard battle with Spinocerebellar Ataxia, a rare debilitating disease, that affected every aspect of his daily life for more than 20 years. Never letting it define him, even when his mind began to outlive his body, Barry’s life was defined by his actions, the love he gave to others, and the lives he inspired. His final act was choosing to pass on his favorite holiday, St. Patrick’s Day, making sure that every year we’ll be toasting and partying to his life, rather than mourning his passing. He will be fondly remembered by his family and many friends around the world, who will continue to honor his monumental legacy. As for Barry, we know that he will be walking, running, jumping, with old friends and family, cold beer in his hand, on his next greatest adventure.

Born on January 14, 1938 in in Salsbury Cove, ME, and grew up on the grounds of the old Jackson Lab in where his father Frank, was one of the first 6 original employees hired by lab founder Dr. Clarence Little. He graduated from Bar Harbor High School in 1956 and later Maine Maritime in 1959. As an incredibly gifted athlete, he had many accolades, with his most treasured being his Bar Harbor HS Seasiders, who had beat the odds, as Barry often did, with their unprecedented state basketball champion win in 1955 and beating top-ranked Ellsworth at the Casino in Bar Harbor during a blizzard. At Maine Maritime Academy, dubbed “Fearless Clark”, he served as a multi-year captain for both the basketball and football teams, where he set several scoring records and was later inducted into the Maine Maritime Hall of Fame in 2015 surrounded by his family and classmates, becoming one of the few triple sport hall of famers.

After graduating, Barry spent 3 years at sea as an Engineer in the Merchant Marines, before taking a shore base job as a Test Engineer with Electric Boat until 1967. Following this, he worked at Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH. In 1974, he made the big decision to join Aramco, moving his family halfway around the world to Saudi Arabia to begin work at for the Marine Dept. in Ras Tanura, where he spent the next 15 years as a pioneer in developing the largest offshore oilfield in the world, a legacy still felt today. In addition to his working career, Barry was very active in the Aramco Community. “Coach Clark ” founded the Aramco youth basketball league in 1977 and left a legacy of little league championships. Barry spent years involved in the Ras Tanura Sandy Hook Yacht Club, and was a founding member of the RT Horseshoe Club, later renamed the Heave-Ahead Club. After leaving Aramco, Barry stayed in Saudi for another 15 years, founding Hadi Hammam Marine Services in the early 90’s and taking his final role as advisor to his beloved Zamil Family in early 2000 at Zamil Marine, wrapping up an incredible 30-year career in Saudi Arabia, matched by few.

After his retirement from the Middle East, Barry returned to Maine, never forgetting where he came from, and bought Bub’s Pub on Water St. in Ellsworth, naming it Sonny’s Tavern after his lifelong drinking buddy, Sonny White. Barry loved the Tavern, and he and Sonny would often chuckle about finally being in a bar that they couldn’t get shut off in, then toasting each other saying “If not, why not”, a motto that he followed until the day he passed. In his later stages of life, Barry decided to sell the tavern and spend the rest of his days at his beautiful spot on Oak Point in Trenton with Dianne and his beloved Sonny-boy. Barry spent each summer gardening, eating clams and lobster, drinking beer and teaching his grandchildren the Maine way of life. His final years were limited to his home, but Barry stayed busy, with his many friends and family from every corner of the world paying frequent visits to Barry’s beloved Bayside America. Barry’s Memorial Service will be held this summer in Maine, when his friends and family can gather to celebrate Barry’s life.