Richard Clarke

Rick Clarke of Barrington Illinois, formerly of Birmingham, Michigan, passed away on March 2, 2020 at the age of 65 due to a rare form of Lymphoma.

He is preceded in death by his father, Norman. He is survived by his mother Janet, his brothers Norman (Dianna) and Steve (Gee-Min), his fiancé Marianne, his former wife Denise and his children Kristen, Morgan, and Ryan.

Rick was born January 18, 1955 in Ann Arbor, Michigan to Dr. Norman and Janet Clarke. He attended Wiley E. Groves High School and graduated from Michigan State University. He received his MBA from Loyola University of Chicago.

Rick began his lifelong career as a financial consultant in 1983 when he moved to Chicago. His passion for managing stocks and following investment markets led him to work at Blunt Ellis & Loewi, Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch, Wachovia Securities and Wells Fargo. He started Clarke Investment Management in 2001.

Rick had many fond memories from his childhood years growing up in Birmingham, Michigan and the many lifelong friendships he made throughout college at Michigan State University and as a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. His family spent countless summer vacations in Northern Michigan on Walloon Lake, a place he called “Heaven on Earth.” He loved swimming, snow skiing, water skiing, cruising down the lake on his 1974 Sea Ray boat, rockin’ out to Motown music and harmonizing with his favorite band, the Beach Boys.

Rick taught his children all about life: how to grill, how to manage money, how to drive a boat and everything in-between. Kristen, Morgan and Ryan have many amazing memories with their dad. He had a passion for restoring old houses, and he knew how to turn a house into a home. Most recently, he restored his farmhouse in Downtown Barrington, built in 1886. His legacy will live on as his daughter, Kristen, continues with a love for home renovations in Fort Myers, Florida.

He was engaged to Marianne Winsor, and they made many amazing memories together over the past four years. Rick and Marianne enjoyed living life to its fullest along with their two dogs, Maddie and Mackenzie.

Rick was a special man. He will be fondly remembered by family and friends for his humor, charisma, enthusiasm and his love for life on the lake.

He always wanted to go “up north,” and so we will be taking him there to lay him to rest next to his grandfather and the man he was named after, Richard Wilbur.

A burial service will be held at Greenwood Cemetery in Petoskey, Michigan, this Saturday at 2pm. The address for the gate is 1938 Sheridan Street. Luncheon to follow at 2:30pm.
The family is planning a “Celebration of Life” at Wallon Lake this summer, in remembrance of Rick. Date and time TBD. Details will be posted on Facebook.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to the Lymphoma Research Foundation at https://lymphoma.org/ under the donate tab.