Category: Obituary: C

The Rev. John M. Coffee, Jr. died on May 8, 2012. He was 83 years old. Rev. Coffee was born in Tacoma, WA on November 20, 1928 to John M. and Lillian S. Coffee. Rev. Coffee attained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University in 1951. He then went on to earn a Bachelor of Sacred Theology and a Master of Sacred Theology from Harvard Divinity School in 1954 and 1956, respectively.

Rev. Coffee was ordained by the First Unitarian Church of Tacoma, WA on August 15, 1954. From there, he was called to the First Church in Roxbury, MA and served as its Minister from 1955-1977. He served the Church of Our Father in East Boston, MA from 1961-1974; and the Benevolent Fraternity of Unitarian Universalist Churches from 1978-1982. As an interim minister, he served at the First Unitarian Church of Providence, RI from 1977-1979. He was Minister Emeritus at the First Unitarian Church in Roxbury from 1977 until the end of his life. He also served as president of the Boston Minister’s Association.

Rev. Coffee taught for 39 years (1966-2005) at Emerson College in Boston, MA. As a longtime faculty member and eventual Professor Emeritus of History, Rev. Coffee was known by colleagues and students, alike, as a “talented storyteller who brought history alive in his classroom.” He was also one of the authors of A Century of Eloquence, a large volume on the his- tory of Emerson College.

Rev. Coffee was an avid collector of transportation tokens. In fact, at the time of his death, he owned the world’s largest collection of transportation tokens. He was the author of several books on the matter including Land Company and Real Estate Tokens, Automobile Washing Tokens, and The Atwood-Coffee Catalogue of United States and Canadian Transportation Tokens.

Rev. Coffee is survived by loving friends, colleagues and students.

Dorothy Moore Clary, 82, wife of the Rev. Bruce Clary, died December 23, 2010. She had been a physical education teacher who had a passion for teaching. She enjoyed swimming. During Bruce’s ministry at First Church, Dedham, MA, Dottie was an active member of the Women’s Alliance. Her work on the Alliance board included serving as co- president. She is remembered for helping with mailing the newsletter, networking, greeting and working on the church’s holly fair fundraiser. She supported the Dedham Food Pantry, volunteering many hours on behalf of the congregation. When she turned 80, Dottie was presented with the Clara Barton Award by the First Church (Dedham) Women’s Alliance. She is survived by her brother Charles Moore of Greenfield, MA, by three grandchildren and by her husband of 33 years.

The Rev. Bruce M. Clary, 72, died September 15, 2011. He earned his BA from the University of Tulsa and his Bachelor of Divinity from Meadville Lombard. He served churches in Bridgewater, MA; Oklahoma City, OK; Barre, VT; Stoughton, MA; Mentor, OH; and First Church and Dedham, MA, which named him minister emeritus. He served on the UUSC Board, the UUMA Exec, the CLF RE Committee, the LREDA Board, the Ballou Channing District RE Committee, and the Unitarian Sunday School Society. He was listed in Who’s Who in Religion and Who’s Who in America. He had received Special Recognition by the UUSC and had been awarded the Oklahoma Governor’s Award for Community Service. He authored a number of books, including Views from the Iceberg. In retirement his interests included painting, photography, writing, cooking, community theater, antiques, nautical history, and Native American art and rituals. He was predeceased by his wife, Dorothy Clary, in December. He is survived by his son, David Clary, his daughter-in-law, three granddaughters, and his sister, Barbara Clary Martin, and her husband, and by a niece and two nephews.

The Rev. Robert C. Clarke, 84, died on January 18, 2013. Rev. Clarke was born in Seattle, WA on June 11, 1928 to Ethel (Moore) and Clarence Clarke. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Millikin University in 1960. He then went on to attain a Bachelor of Divinity from McCormick Theological Seminary in 1963.

Rev. Clarke was ordained on September 20, 1964 at the First Unitarian Society in Exeter, NH, where he also served from 1964-1967. He went on to serve the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, VA from 1967-1977; The First Unitarian Church of Dallas, TX from 1977-1980; the Unitarian Church North in Mequon, WI from 1982-1983; and the First Unitarian Church of Cincinnati, OH from 1983-1991. Rev. Clarke was honored with the title of Minister Emeritus from the First Unitarian Church, and retired from ministry in 1991. In 1996, he helped found the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Door County in Ephraim, WI.

Committed to his faith, Rev. Clarke lectured at the Star Island Family Conference in 1966; and spoke at the Southwestern Regional Conference in 1979. He was a member of the Holmes-Weatherly Award Committee in 1970 and 1971. He also served as Chairman of the Washington Advisory Committee to the Unitarian Universalist Association’s Department of Social Responsibility in 1967; as well as the Commission on Education for Professional Religious Leadership from 1970-1971.

Rev. Clarke enjoyed football, softball, golf, music, and reading. He was a guest on numerous religious television programs in Chicago, IL, Washington D.C., and Dallas, TX. He also volunteered at the Hadley School for the Blind and counseled prisoners.

Rev. Clarke is survived by his wife of 62 years, Anne; daughter, Betsy; son, Jim; grandchildren Marie and Justin; and great-granddaughter, Ava. He was predeceased by his sister, Helen, and brothers, Jim and Jack.

A memorial concert took place on Sunday, May 19, 2013 3:00 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Door County, 10341 Water Street, Ephraim, WI 54211.

Notes of condolence may be sent to Anne Clarke at 10554 Applewood Drive, Sister Bay, WI 54234.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Good Samaritan Society – Scandia Village at 10560 Applewood Rd., Sister Bay, WI 54234; or to the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Door County at P.O. Box 859, Sister Bay, WI 54234.

The Rev. Ronald Eugene Clark, 70, died August 16, 2006. He served at May Memorial of Syracuse, NY; the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City; and First Unitarian Church of Stoneham, MA, where he was named Emeritus Minister. He served the UUA 1976-1985 as Extension Director then as Director of Church Staff Finances. He later founded the Clark School in Danvers, MA, a private elementary school. He is survived by his wife Sharon and his three children: Kevin, Kristen and Jeffery.

The Rev. R. Lanier Clance, 74, died on April 15, 2013. Rev. Clance was born in Jacksonville, FL on December 18, 1938 to Henry and Eloise Clance. He attained his Bachelor of Arts degree from Lynchburg College in 1965. He also earned a Bachelor of Divinity from Lexington Theological Seminary in 1965.

Rev. Clance was ordained at the First Universalist Church in North Olmstead, OH on February 20, 1966. He was called to serve the First Universalist Church (now the Olmstead Unitarian Universalist Congregation) in 1965, and he stayed there until 1974. He then went on to found the First Existentialist Congregation of Atlanta, GA in 1976. He continued to serve there (as well as the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Riverdale in Atlanta, GA from 1996-1998) until his retirement in 2001. He was given the honor of being named Minister Emeritus of the First Existentialist Congregation of Atlanta in 2001.

Rev. Clance worked hard to uphold peace and justice in his community and beyond. Being a feminist, humanist, and all-around political activist, it comes as no surprise that his beliefs led him to work with the National Organization of Women (N.O.W.), the American Civil Liberties Union (A.C.L.U.), and various other community organizations.

A practitioner of Gestalt and existentialist therapies, Rev. Clance also counseled couples and individuals, and “was a compassionate and forthright companion through his clients’ suffering and joy.”

In 1976, Rev. Clance and eight other people joined together to form the First Existentialist Congregation of Atlanta. They would eventually build its membership to 450 members by 1981. As one of the founders, Rev. Clance helped form a congregation which was intentionally diverse, bringing together folks from many different communities and helping them view life through a more expansive and generous lens. “As a speaker and leader, he was known for his spontaneity, honesty, and gift of being present in the moment. His legacy includes both a profound acceptance of others as they were and his dedication to urging his congregants to become more fully themselves.”

In “An Existential Ministry: Theory and Practice,” Rev. Clance speaks on his ministerial approach:

I consider my preaching to be Life-Centered. Intellectual concepts are drawn from philosophy, theology, psychology and other disciplines of study. I do not present lectures on these subjects. I do use these areas of knowledge to illuminate and illustrate my particular responses and reactions to life problems of human existence as well as the joys. I believe such preaching creates a dual response. The initial response is to my particular answers and analysis. A more profound response is created by providing individuals with a few concrete answers which they can accept or reject. Namely, they can then work out their own position or faith. I am personally more excited when an individual states something I said started him thinking about an issue or increased his awareness of his own feelings and ideas than when I hear another repeat what I have said as if it were the truth.

A friend noted, “Lanier will be remembered for his gift of engaging others in opening their spirits to know and celebrate the depth of human experience in each moment.”

Rev. Clance is survived by his life partners, who have both cared for him for the last 40 years, Pauline Rose and Nancy Zumoff.

A memorial service was planned for Sunday, May 12, 2013 at 3:00 p.m. at the First Existentialist Congregation of Atlanta, 470 Candler Park Dr. NE, Atlanta, GA 30307.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Existentialist Congregation of Atlanta.

Notes of condolence may be sent to Pauline Rose Clance and Nancy Zumoff at 1293 Fairview Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30306.

The Rev. Albert Francis Ciarcia, 89, died on Friday, July 26, 2013. He was minister emeritus of the UU Church of Greater Bridgeport (Stratford, CT), which he served for 32 years. He was a tireless advocate for accessibility, and earned a commendation from the governor of CT. He is survived by his wife, Jane Ciarcia, his daughters Holly McCann, Joyce Ciarcia-Levy and his son Christopher.

At the request of the family there will be no further obituary.

Edith Macgregor Christensen, 92, widow of the Rev. John Paul Christensen, died June 6, 2010. She earned a BS in biology at Jackson College at Tufts University. She worked as a lab technician in Boston hospitals and in the sanitary engineering department at Harvard. She was a stay-at-home mother to their three children and a minister’s wife for 40 years. She and her husband were part of the organizing meeting for UURMaPA at Petersham, MA in 1985. Her husband died the following year. At his memorial service she took up a collection for UURMaPA and made a generous gift to our association. She was also a member of the UU Community Church of Glen Allen (VA), Eastern Star, World Wildlife Federation and Sierra Club, She was an outspoken environmentalist. She also enjoyed going to concerts and playing Mah Jongg. She was predeceased by her daughter Jeanne Christensen Kelly. She is survived by her children, John P. Christensen, Jr. and Diane Christensen and by her son-in-law and daughter-in-law.

Constance Meta Cheetham, 97, widow of the Rev. Henry Harris Cheetham, died Aug. 1, 2006. She was born in England. In 1953, the Cheethams boarded the QE II for America. She loved life in the U.S., in Newport, RI, Boston, and Charlottesville, VA. She promoted reading among children, managed the gift shop at University of Virginia Medical Center, and spent years helping out at Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church in Charlottesville. For this work she received the Clara Barton Award from the UUA. A lifetime service award was named after her. She is survived by her daughter, Ann C. Colley of Buffalo, New York; and one granddaughter.

Virginia (Ginny) Lee Crane, widow of the Rev. John Alexie (Lex) Crane, died of pneumonia on January 23, 2016, just shy of her 93rd birthday. She died peacefully, surrounded by family, following a long life devoted to family, friends, service and travel.

Ginny was born in Elgin, IL on February 7, 1923 to Isaac Newton and Judith Beery Garber. She graduated from Elgin High School and attended Manchester College (Indiana) and Barnard College (NYC). She grew up in the Church of the Brethren, a pacifist faith that fled persecution in Europe and brought her ancestor, Nicholas Beery, to Philadelphia in 1727.

Ginny was married first to Stephen Blickenstaff. They had four children: Claire, Evan, Sarah (died 1953), and Eric. They lived in Falls Church,VA; New York City; Putney, VT; and Pittsburgh, PA; as Steve pursued a career in international education first at the U.S. State Department and later at the Experiment in International Living and the Carnegie Tech Indian Steel Training Program. In 1962, the family moved to India (the place of Steve’s birth and childhood) to continue his education work. They spent nearly five years there living in Ranchi, Bihar and Lucknow, U.P. while the children attended Woodstock boarding school in the Himalayas. In 1968 Ginny and Steve moved to Santa Barbara where Ginny became Executive Secretary of the Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara (USSB). Their marriage ended in divorce.

In 1976 Ginny married Rev. John “Lex” Crane, minister of USSB, and became step-mother to Jack, David (died 2004) and Doug Crane. During their 39 years together, Ginny and Lex lived primarily in Santa Barbara, but also in Santa Monica, San Diego and Santa Paula (CA), Golden (CO), Boston (MA), Yakima and Tacoma (WA), and Chandler (AZ) following Lex’s various church ministries. In each location, Ginny was employed in UU-related administrative positions. In 2002 she and Lex moved to the Valle Verde retirement community.

Wherever Ginny lived, she was an avid volunteer and organizer in many liberal social causes. She cared particularly about ending war, promoting peace and justice, and the rights of minorities, women and children. Among her many activities, she provided housing for Hungarian refugees, and did organizational work for UNICEF. She worked with the League of Women Voters. In every election, she provided well-researched and appreciated voting recommendations for her family and friends. She also served the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, USSB Alliance, and the UU Seasoned Seekers. She and Lex were active in the UU Retired Ministers and Partners Association. They shared their memorable Odyssey with UURMaPA Colleagues in April, 2008 at Vallombrosa Retreat Center in Menlo Park, CA.

Ginny’s adventurous spirit led to a passion for travel. She traveled throughout India as well as Europe, Africa, Southeast Asia, Japan, China, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Cuba. Ginny loved this life, making friends with people throughout the world, learning about their lives, history and customs and adapting easily to life in so many different communities and cultures. Her open-mindedness, organizing skills, good humor, quick wit, gentleness, and warmth endeared her to all who knew her.

Ginny is survived by her children Claire Beery (William Haigwood), Evan Blickenstaff, and Eric Blickenstaff (Cynthia Kasabian); step-sons Jack Crane, Douglas Crane (Lisa Babashoff), and step-daughters-in-law Betsy Wright and Brenda Crane. She is survived by grandchildren Willow Summer (Lew Summer), Mira Rosenthal (Greg Domber) and Zoë Leverant; John and Alex Blickenstaff; Molly Crane Tooley and Allie Crane Corrigan; Lailani Crane; Alex and Kirra Crane and great-grandchildren Tillie and Lulu Domber as well as a beloved niece and nephews.

In early August, 2015, Ginny lost Lex, the love of her life.

The family is grateful for the loving care of the staff at Valle Verde, especially The Grove, and to Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care for their tender support.

Contributions in Ginny’s memory may be made to the Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara,the UU Retired Minsters and Partners Assn, or the Valle Verde Fund, Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara (P.O. Box 3620, Santa Barbara CA 93130).

A memorial service was planned for March 20, at 3 pm, at the Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara.

Notes of remembrance may be sent to Ginny’s daughter, Claire Beery, 4440 Hillview Way, Rohnert Park, CA 94928.