In loving memory of Richard Clarke Eaton - Obituary Baldwin Brothers

Obituary

Richard Clarke Eaton

With great sadness, the family of Richard Clarke Eaton announces his passing on July 13, 2018, at the age of 75, in Ocala, Florida, after a brief illness. Rich will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 49 years, Jane, and his children, Jill and David, and daughter-in-law Anjolie. “Pop-pop” will also be fondly remembered by his two granddaughters, Mora and Galen.

Born and raised in Flushing, New York, Rich was an only child, but had the great fortune to discover what would quickly become his best and lifelong friend in the house next door. Rich attended Brooklyn Technical High School before matriculating to Queens College to earn his bachelor’s degree. Later he continued his education with an MBA from St. John’s University. A career in finance may have started in New York City, but it was when Rich accepted a job offer to work at the Yale University School of Management in New Haven, Connecticut, that he found his vocational calling. From that point forward, Rich worked as a financial officer at private educational institutions. The last 17 years of his career were spent at Miss Porter’s School in Farmington, Connecticut, where he made many great friends. Away from work, Rich found time to coach his kids’ baseball and softball teams, and to support and encourage all their academic and athletic pursuits. Family vacations included skiing, Disneyworld, and visiting relatives.

After retirement, Rich and Jane split time between Florida and Maine, enjoying the best seasons in both places. Rich played year-round golf in retirement, which should come as no surprise. An avid and skilled golfer throughout his entire life, he greatly enjoyed the competition but probably equally enjoyed the camaraderie and friendships formed. While he honed his game as a teenager at Kissena Park in Queens, New York, his retirement rounds at Stone Creek Golf Club in Florida and Wawenock Golf Club in Maine produced some of his best memories, stories, and friendships.

In addition to golf, Rich enjoyed bar trivia nights with his neighbors, kayaking with Jane, and playing and swimming with his granddaughters. When in Maine, he enjoyed relaxing by the lake with a good book, drinking and sharing his particularly wry sense of humor with family and friends, and of course dining on lobsters.

The family has requested that any memorial donations in memory of Rich be directed to one of two places: (1) Wawenock Golf Club, PO Box 766, Damariscotta, ME 04543 or www.wawenockgolfclub.com; and (2) UF Health Shands Hospital, at https://www.uff.ufl.edu/give-now/?fund_id=012651. Wawenock is small nonprofit golf club in Maine, where Rich enjoyed countless hours of golf each summer, joking around with each staff member by name, from the pro shop and grounds crew to the bartender. UF Health Shands Hospital has provided top quality care, treatment, and support to both Rich and Jane since their move to Florida.