VIRGINIA P. CLARK - WILLISTON - Virginia Louise Prescott
Clark, 82, died peacefully on March 31, 2012, after a mercifully
brief illness. She was born on Dec. 24, 1929, in Boston, the only
child of Frank and Phyllis (Whyte) Prescott. Raised in Chevy
Chase, Md., she attended St. Johnsbury Academy where she met
and married St. Johnsbury native, Harry L. Clark. They lived in the
Washington D.C. area, St. Johnsbury, and Burlington, and settled
in Shelburne in 1966. Virginia spent 36 fulfilling years there, and
retired to Williston in 2002. With a lifelong passion for reading and
language, Virginia worked as an executive secretary while
launching an academic career that would become her life. She
held a BA (University of Vermont, 1961, magna cum laude and
Phi Beta Kappa), M.A. (UVM, 1963), and Ph.D. (University of
Connecticut, 1968). She taught English and linguistics at UVM
throughout her career, beginning as an assistant professor in 1968 and, by 1976,
becoming one of the university's youngest full professors.
She was appointed to the Graduate College faculty in 1969.
She was the author or coauthor of several influential
textbooks including, Language: Introductory Readings and
Language Awareness, as well as many academic articles and
conference presentations. Courses taught included, Structure and
History of the English Language and British Literature. She was
the first faculty member at UVM to teach a course on Women in
Literature. Her academic pursuits were so unusual for a young
mother in the 1960s, that the Free Press sent a reporter to
photograph her sitting with her three children on the swing set in
her cap and gown. An early feminist, Virginia prevailed against
the "glass ceiling" many women hit in academia, and became a
role model for many female academics and students. She served
as Chair of the UVM English Department for many years. Her
early interest in technology, unusual among English professors,
helped bring the department into the computer age. She chaired
the UVM Faculty Senate from 1979-1981. She and her husband
were passionate skiers. Harry volunteered on the ski patrol at
Smuggler's Notch, and Virginia took pride in the number of days
they skied, regardless of the weather. They enjoyed summers at
their home on Lake Champlain, including swimming and Harry's
gourmet cooking. She was predeceased by her husband, Harry in
1990. She is survived by her three children, daughter, Delia
(formerly Deborah) Clark and her husband, Timothy Traver, of
Taftsville, son, David Clark of Shelburne, and daughter, Susan
Clark and her husband, Mark Bushnell, of Middlesex; six
grandchildren, Annakalmia Traver of Brooklyn, Mollie Traver of
Brooklyn, Toben Traver of Burlington, Alexander Clark of
Manhattan, Miranda Clark of Shelburne, and Harrison Bushnell of
Middlesex. She is also survived by her brother-in-law, Richard
Clark and his wife, Joyce, of Green Valley, Ariz. A memorial
service is being planned for mid-May; for details, call Susan at:
802-223-5824. In lieu of flowers, her children suggest making a
donation to Williston Fire and Rescue, 645 Talcott Road,
Williston, VT 05495
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