By John Hayden

His love was limitless and his smile was as refreshing as the drinks he poured. Don Clark called South Florida home for decades and touched the lives of thousands either through his hospitality at the bars or his philanthropy. He passed away after a long fight with cancer.

Originally from Kentucky, Clark moved to South Florida and quickly became a recognizable face in the community. Many people here first remember him from The Hideaway bar. A little off the beaten path, many people would go out of their way to have a drink there because they knew he was behind the bar.

Over the years, bars came and went and Clark went with them. From Bill’s Filling Station, he eventually worked as a manager at Georgie’s Alibi & Monkey Bar. On a day shortly after his death, several longtime customers and Wilton Manors residents, surprised by the news, remembered him fondly.

In addition to having a handsome face and a heavy hand, he also had a big heart. Clark was dedicated to helping his community. He was a member of Tuesday’s Angels, which would meet at the old Chardees for lunch and ‘pass around the hat’ to collect money for people with HIV. They helped hundreds of people a year get necessities that often go overlooked, such as eye glasses.

But taking up a weekly collection was just the start for Clark. Clark would get more of the community involved by holding fun Underwear Auctions. People bid on underwear from local bartenders. If they didn’t have underwear they thought would attract attention, Clark would buy them a pair so they could still raise money. On a good night, Clark and his cohorts could raise ten thousand dollars or more.

Clark was working at Georgie’s Alibi & Monkey Bar when he passed. Fellow manager and longtime friend Ron Wollery summed him up best, saying, “If there’s somebody who’s a better man, I don’t think I’ve met him. Don was always just a great guy.”

He is survived by his husband, Pooch. Don Clark was 66 years old.