Retired surgeon, hospital executive, and community leader, Dr. Bliss B. Clark, age 97, passed away at his home in Harlingen, Texas, on March 20, 2006. Dr. Clark was born in 1908, in Springfield, Massachusetts, and grew up in New Britain, Connecticut, where he resided for most of his life. He studied at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, where he earned an undergraduate degree, and then taught for two years at the Pomfret, CT, School for boys. He later enrolled in Cornell Medical School, New York City, where he earned his medical degree. After completing his surgical residency at Bellevue and New York Hospitals in 1942, he was inducted into the United States Army, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. During World War II he served as Chief of Surgery at the 135th Evacuation Hospital, and was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service and "Outstanding Work in the Field of Hand Surgery".
Following his military service, Dr. Clark returned to New Britain, where in 1946 he established a successful surgical practice and became Chief of Staff as well as Chief of Surgery at New Britain General Hospital. He would serve in these positions for the next 17 years. During this time he also founded the Grove Hill Clinic, one of the first multispecialty group practices in New England. In 1963, he relinquished his surgical practice to become the Executive Director of New Britain General Hospital. In 1974, he became President and Chief Executive Officer of New Britain General Hospital positions he held until his retirement in 1976. In recognition of his many years of dedicated service, he was named Director Emeritus of New Britain General Hospital. He was also honored by the Connecticut Hospital Association's T. Stewart Hamilton Distinguished Service Award.
Dr. Clark was a member of many prestigious professional societies, among them the New England Surgical Society, the Examining Board of the American Board of Surgery, and the Advisory Board of the Medical College of the University of Connecticut. He was a diplomate of the American Board of Surgery, a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association, American Geriatrics Society, American College of Hospital Administrators, and numerous other state and national medical and professional organizations. He was also the author of many scholarly articles about surgery and hospital administration.
In 1980, Dr. Clark moved from New Britain to the Palm Valley area of Harlingen, Texas, where, continuing his deep involvement in service to his community, he was elected to three terms as mayor of Palm Valley, and also served as the president of the Harlingen Country Club in the mid-1980's.
Dr. Clark is survived by his wife, Helen, of Harlingen, TX, four children, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was a devoted husband and father, and a dedicated servant to his community. A memorial service was held on March 24, 2006, at the Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home, Harlingen, TX, which was also in charge of funeral arrangements.
Following his military service, Dr. Clark returned to New Britain, where in 1946 he established a successful surgical practice and became Chief of Staff as well as Chief of Surgery at New Britain General Hospital. He would serve in these positions for the next 17 years. During this time he also founded the Grove Hill Clinic, one of the first multispecialty group practices in New England. In 1963, he relinquished his surgical practice to become the Executive Director of New Britain General Hospital. In 1974, he became President and Chief Executive Officer of New Britain General Hospital positions he held until his retirement in 1976. In recognition of his many years of dedicated service, he was named Director Emeritus of New Britain General Hospital. He was also honored by the Connecticut Hospital Association's T. Stewart Hamilton Distinguished Service Award.
Dr. Clark was a member of many prestigious professional societies, among them the New England Surgical Society, the Examining Board of the American Board of Surgery, and the Advisory Board of the Medical College of the University of Connecticut. He was a diplomate of the American Board of Surgery, a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association, American Geriatrics Society, American College of Hospital Administrators, and numerous other state and national medical and professional organizations. He was also the author of many scholarly articles about surgery and hospital administration.
In 1980, Dr. Clark moved from New Britain to the Palm Valley area of Harlingen, Texas, where, continuing his deep involvement in service to his community, he was elected to three terms as mayor of Palm Valley, and also served as the president of the Harlingen Country Club in the mid-1980's.
Dr. Clark is survived by his wife, Helen, of Harlingen, TX, four children, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was a devoted husband and father, and a dedicated servant to his community. A memorial service was held on March 24, 2006, at the Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home, Harlingen, TX, which was also in charge of funeral arrangements.
Retired surgeon, hospital executive, and community leader, Dr. Bliss B. Clark, age 97, passed away at his home in Harlingen, Texas, on March 20, 2006. Dr. Clark was born in 1908, in Springfield, Massachusetts, and grew up in New Britain, Connecticut, where he resided for most of his life. He studied at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, where he earned an undergraduate degree, and then taught for two years at the Pomfret, CT, School for boys. He later enrolled in Cornell Medical School, New York City, where he earned his medical degree. After completing his surgical residency at Bellevue and New York Hospitals in 1942, he was inducted into the United States Army, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. During World War II he served as Chief of Surgery at the 135th Evacuation Hospital, and was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service and "Outstanding Work in the Field of Hand Surgery".
Following his military service, Dr. Clark returned to New Britain, where in 1946 he established a successful surgical practice and became Chief of Staff as well as Chief of Surgery at New Britain General Hospital. He would serve in these positions for the next 17 years. During this time he also founded the Grove Hill Clinic, one of the first multispecialty group practices in New England. In 1963, he relinquished his surgical practice to become the Executive Director of New Britain General Hospital. In 1974, he became President and Chief Executive Officer of New Britain General Hospital positions he held until his retirement in 1976. In recognition of his many years of dedicated service, he was named Director Emeritus of New Britain General Hospital. He was also honored by the Connecticut Hospital Association's T. Stewart Hamilton Distinguished Service Award.
Dr. Clark was a member of many prestigious professional societies, among them the New England Surgical Society, the Examining Board of the American Board of Surgery, and the Advisory Board of the Medical College of the University of Connecticut. He was a diplomate of the American Board of Surgery, a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association, American Geriatrics Society, American College of Hospital Administrators, and numerous other state and national medical and professional organizations. He was also the author of many scholarly articles about surgery and hospital administration.
In 1980, Dr. Clark moved from New Britain to the Palm Valley area of Harlingen, Texas, where, continuing his deep involvement in service to his community, he was elected to three terms as mayor of Palm Valley, and also served as the president of the Harlingen Country Club in the mid-1980's.
Dr. Clark is survived by his wife, Helen, of Harlingen, TX, four children, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was a devoted husband and father, and a dedicated servant to his community. A memorial service was held on March 24, 2006, at the Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home, Harlingen, TX, which was also in charge of funeral arrangements.
Following his military service, Dr. Clark returned to New Britain, where in 1946 he established a successful surgical practice and became Chief of Staff as well as Chief of Surgery at New Britain General Hospital. He would serve in these positions for the next 17 years. During this time he also founded the Grove Hill Clinic, one of the first multispecialty group practices in New England. In 1963, he relinquished his surgical practice to become the Executive Director of New Britain General Hospital. In 1974, he became President and Chief Executive Officer of New Britain General Hospital positions he held until his retirement in 1976. In recognition of his many years of dedicated service, he was named Director Emeritus of New Britain General Hospital. He was also honored by the Connecticut Hospital Association's T. Stewart Hamilton Distinguished Service Award.
Dr. Clark was a member of many prestigious professional societies, among them the New England Surgical Society, the Examining Board of the American Board of Surgery, and the Advisory Board of the Medical College of the University of Connecticut. He was a diplomate of the American Board of Surgery, a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association, American Geriatrics Society, American College of Hospital Administrators, and numerous other state and national medical and professional organizations. He was also the author of many scholarly articles about surgery and hospital administration.
In 1980, Dr. Clark moved from New Britain to the Palm Valley area of Harlingen, Texas, where, continuing his deep involvement in service to his community, he was elected to three terms as mayor of Palm Valley, and also served as the president of the Harlingen Country Club in the mid-1980's.
Dr. Clark is survived by his wife, Helen, of Harlingen, TX, four children, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was a devoted husband and father, and a dedicated servant to his community. A memorial service was held on March 24, 2006, at the Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home, Harlingen, TX, which was also in charge of funeral arrangements.
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