Livingston, N.J. — David William Clarke, the president of Inteplast Engineered Films, died Aug. 17 while he was on vacation in Maine. He was 59.
His wife of 22 years, Kathy, was at his side, according to a news release from the Livingston-based company. His cause of death was not disclosed.
Clarke was born in Cleethorpes, England, and started his career in plastics in Grimsby, England, at age 17.
Clarke, who lived in Mount Juliet, Tenn., joined Inteplast Group in November 2015, serving as president over plants in the Inteplast Engineered Films business unit, with locations in Dalton, Ga.; Garland, Texas; Orlando, Fla.; Prattville, Ala.; and Westborough, Mass.
"Dave will always be remembered as someone who thought outside the box, who did not take anything for granted," said John Young, president of Inteplast Group. "He was technically competent, perhaps more knowledgeable and experienced than anyone I know in engineered films, and he was a great cheerleader for those around him.
"He had a formidable task in his hands, that of unifying multiple legacies we inherited through each plant site into one coherent whole, towards which he worked day and night. What impressed all of us is that he looked at his team as family and was always able to look at the positive in everyone he led."
The Clarkes met while working at Essex Plastics in Pompano Beach, Fla., and they credit plastics entrepreneur Aubrey Strul as the catalyst for their relationship.
David Clarke "was a perfectionist," Kathy Clarke said in the release. "If he saw a drop of resin on the shop floor it was unacceptable. If he saw scrap that was good material he wanted to know why it wasn't being used. If he saw sloppy work on the extrusion line he went to the operator on that line to give him advice on how to make it better, and every one of those employees respected him for that."
Services are scheduled for 4 p.m. on Sept. 15 at the Hermitage Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens in Old Hickory, Tenn.
"Everyone is welcomed. The plastics industry has lost a very good man," she said.
