Morton Clark

October 7, 2013
Morton Clark

Gifts & Memorial Donations



Morton Hutchinson Clark of Williamsburg, Virginia died on October 7, 2013. Mr. Clark was born April 21, 1933 in Norfolk, Virginia. He was the youngest child of David Henderson Clark and Catharine Hutchinson Clark.

He was a graduate of St. Andrewís School, Middletown, Delaware, the University of Virginia, and the University of Virginia Law School. Following law school, he completed Officer Candidate School in Newport, R.I. and served aboard several aircraft carriers operating in the Pacific. He also served at the Naval Air Station Chincoteague, Virginia as an Air Intelligence Officer utilizing both aircraft and submarines.

Mr. Clark was a partner at the law firm of Vandeventer, Black, Meredith, and Martin in Norfolk Virginia until his retirement in 2000. He served on the Executive Committee of the Maritime Law Association of the United States. He was a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a past president of the IíAnson-Hoffman American Inn of Court, co-editor of The Virginia Lawyer-Chapter on Admiralty, and a lecturer on Admiralty at the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at William and Mary College.

He loved boats and sailing and participated in numerous off shore races as navigator, including the Southern Ocean Racing Circuit, the Annapolis to Newport races, and the Newport to Bermuda races.

Mr. Clark is survived by his wife of 52 years, Lynn Adams Clark and their four children: Allison Dunn and her husband Hugh of Suffolk, England, David Clark and his wife Karen of Norfolk, Virginia, Susan Anton and her husband Alexander of Oxford, England, and Dixon Cairnduff and her husband Bruce of Hong Kong; and six grandchildren: William and Anna Dunn, Emma Clark, Harrison and Sydney Anton, and Ian Cairnduff. His sister Catharine C. Rasmussen and his brother David Clark also survive him.

The funeral service will be private.


Purchase Flowers

Subscribe to this Obituary

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Tribute Wall

Please feel free to sign the guestbook or share a memory



Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


  • October 08, 2013
    Henry Bouffard says:
    Lynn, I can't tell you how saddened I am to learn of Mort's passing. He was a wonderful man with a great sense of loyalty and friendship. I will keep him and your family in my prayers. Henry Bouffard

  • October 08, 2013
    leigh gawrys says:
    Lynn my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time. I have wonderful memories of Mort and wonderful humor.

  • October 08, 2013
    James Milby says:
    I was sad to hear of Morts passing. He was a true Virginia Gentleman and one of the nicest people I have ever met. Rest in peace sir.

  • October 10, 2013
    David Wise says:
    I had the pleasure of living at the Clarkís house on Linkhorn Drive for two summers. Mr. and Mrs. Clark treated me like family, and Iíll never forget their generosity and all the happy times. I know I was a major pain for Mr. and Mrs. Clark (and the rest of the Clark clan) but they never let me know it. After all the time I spent with Mr. Clark, I can remember only one time when he got mad at me. We were sailing in the bay on his beautiful sailboat when I dropped one of the expensive hand winches over the side. He cried ìOh Jeez!î His face was pained, and he kept looking behind the boat like it might pop up back there (I think it was made of lead). Finally, he said ìYou know, that was a fairly expensive piece of equipment.î That was all he would let himself say. We shared a good laugh about this a few months ago ñ he reminded me that it was expensive. Thanks to Mr. Clark, I also worked for his law firm one summer during law school. He gave me a lot of great advice about the law (and other things). After graduating from law school, I took a job for a different firm in Norfolk. One day, a senior partner told me that he wanted me to argue a motion in federal court. I wasnít ready or happy, but I couldnít get out of it. I walked into court and sat down and waited for opposing counsel. Mr. Clark walked in and sat at the opposite table. I had not seen him in a long time, but he could see I was struggling with what to say to the Judge. So he stood up and said, ìYour honor, while opposing counsel clearly has the superior intellect and is a fine lawyer, I think heís been handed some bad facts.î The judge agreed with Mr. Clark and I avoided a lot of stumbling. I just remember thinking, ìBoy, what a classy move.î Mr. Clark - Iíll remember you for your generosity and advice; and for your great sense of humor and laugh. I hope youíre playing tennis or sailing up there. Thanks for doing so much for me. I owe you a fancy sailing winch and a whole lot more. David Wise

  • October 08, 2013
    Arch Brown says:
    I am so sorry for your loss. Please know that my prayers and thoughts are with you all during this time.