IN MEMORIAM: Elizabeth W. Clark, 88;
Former Cooperstown Mayor’s Widow
COOPERSTOWN – Elizabeth “Liz” Bridger Feltz Clark, 88, passed away at home on Christmas afternoon 2020, 10 days after her husband, former Cooperstown mayor Bill Clark.
She was born Feb. 6, 1922, in Cooperstown, to A. John and Ada (Bridger) Wedderspoon. She graduated from Cooperstown High School in 1941 and from Cazenovia Junior College in 1943.
Upon graduation she accepted a job at Medina Memorial Hospital. While living in Medina, she met and married John P. (Jack) Feltz in 1949. Their union produced two children, Linda and Craig.
Jack died at the age of 42 in 1960 and Liz and her children returned to Cooperstown where she was employed in the Bassett Hospital research department.
In October 1969, Liz married William D. Clark and together they raised his six children and her two children. It was a match made in heaven. At the time of her death, they had guided a close, loving family for more than 51 years. Bill passed away only 10 days before Liz, truly a fitting and precious conclusion to more than a half-century of love and devotion.
In addition to her first and second husbands, Liz was predeceased by her parents; sister A. Jane Cerio (1990), and special friends Ruth (Feltz) and Don Cielewich, her sister and brother-in-law.
She is survived by her eight children, Margaret Clark and John O’Meara of North Salem, Linda and Steve Roach of Fredonia, Sara (Gary Barnum) of Cooperstown, Cathy and Ned Perkins of Bennington, Vt., David and Pam Clark, also of Bennington, Craig (Peggy Torruella) Feltz of Walden, Bill Clark of Cooperstown and Jean and Rob Bohm of Cooperstown.
Liz is further survived by 11 grandchildren, Jay and Kym O’Meara and son, Bobby of Wheat Ridge, Colo., Ashley (Aaron Oberlin) Willoughby, of Charlotte, N.C., Caitlin and Ted Grady and sons, Jack and Edward, of Brewster, Ian and Brandi O’Meara of Portsmouth, N.H., Morgann and Ben Schaefer and twins, Juniper and Samson, of Buffalo, Dr. Emily Perkins of Liverpool, Dr. Shane and Christina Clark of Nyack, Matthew Perkins of Bennington, Rudy and Julia Bohm of Cooperstown and Mollie Clark of Bennington.
She is further survived by nieces and nephews, Michael Feltz, Richard Feltz, Michael Cerio, Diane Cerio, John Cerio, Scott Cielewich and Don Cielewich and their spouses and families.
Liz was a wonderful wife, mother, aunt, and Nana to her family. Her legacy lives on in stories to be told and meals to be prepared.
Family funeral services will be held Dec. 31, at the First Baptist Church of Cooperstown of which she was a life member.
In lieu of flowers, please donate in her memory to the First Baptist Church, 31 Elm St., Cooperstown, or Helios Care of Oneonta.
Arrangements are under the care of Tillapaugh Funeral Service, Cooperstown.