Local peace activist Louise Clark died on Aug. 21 at her son Jack's house in Santa Rosa, California - surrounded by her family and friends. Louise has been fighting lymphoma cancer for over a year. She was 86.
Louise, along with her husband Johnson Clark, were longtime activists and supporters of the Mt. Diablo Peace and Justice Center. They first became involved in the peace movement during the Vietnam War and began working with the Mt. Diablo Peace Center in its early years when they served as draft counselors alongside Arne Westerback, Andy Baltzo and Robert Heaton.
One of their many activities included an attempt to speak before the Lafayette City Council against the war. Louise remembered the challenge of being put off by the council until the end of the meeting at 1 a.m. Johnson Clark passed away several years ago.
Louise became a major force for peace in the East Bay since donating land adjacent to the freeway and Lafayette BART station for the purposes of displaying a war memorial for the victims of the Iraq War. The "" were first erected on the Clarks' property by Jeff Heaton (son of co-counselor, Robert Heaton), to commemorate the first twenty casualties of the Iraq War. Many will remember that she was a founding member of the Lamorinda Democratic Club.
A memorial service will be held at her house, #6 Blackthorn, Lafayette, at 10 a.m. on Sunday, August 28. Please RSVP HERE.
