Obituaries

Obituary: Clark Kendall

Lifelong Belmont resident, he helped popularize the VW Bug in the United States.

Clark Kendall, a life-long Belmont resident who help popularize the VW Bug as one of the first Volkswagen dealers in the US, died peacefully surrounded by his family at his Belmont home on Friday, April 19, 2013.

Kendall was 90.

Clark was born on May 15, 1922 at 124 Goden St., the son of Francis Hathaway Kendall and Harriet Johnston Kendall, and brother of the late John Hathaway Kendall.

Clark attended Belmont public schools, graduating from Belmont High School in 1940. He attended Bryant & Stratton Business School, and graduated from a course in Business Administration.

Clark served in World War II for 39 months with the United States Army Infantry and as a Surgical Technician in the 123rd Evacuation Hospital in France and Germany. He served again as a Surgical Technician for 10 months during the Korean Conflict in Japan.

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Following World War II, Clark entered Mass State College at Fort Devens and the University of Massachusetts. He joined the Fraternity of Sigma Phi Epsilon, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics in 1950.

Clark started his automotive career working for two Ford and Lincoln Mercury dealerships, then in 1955 started Foreign Cars of Belmont, which became Belmont Volkswagen. He was one of the first Volkswagen dealers in the United States, and his business flourished for 44 years as a single-line, hometown dealership. Clark sold the VW franchise in 1999 and redeveloped the Trapelo Road property where the Kendall Building (which houses CVS) now stands.

No man loved his hometown more than Clark loved Belmont, said his family. Clark served as a Special Auxiliary Policeman in Belmont for 30 Years; he also chaired the Belmont Warrant Committee, was a Town Meeting Member of Belmont Precinct 1, was a member and past-President of Rotary Club of Belmont with 50 years perfect attendance, and Chairman of the Board of Belmont Savings Bank.

One of Clark's other passions was antique automobiles. He was a Trustee of the Larz Anderson Museum, a founder of the Vintage Sports Car Club of America, a member of the Veteran Motor Car Club of America and the Antique Auto Club of America. He provided cars to convey the WWI and WWII Veterans in the Belmont Memorial Day Parade for decades.

Having traveled extensively during his military service, Clark never wanted to stray too far from home again unless it was to his summer home, the "stately pleasure-dome Xanadu" on Square Pond in Shapleigh, Maine. Clark enjoyed sailing, boating and snowmobiling in Maine and was a founding member of the Square Pond Yacht Club. One of his greatest pleasures was driving up the Mount Washington Auto Road in his many modes of transportation, most notably his 1913 Ford Model T, 1926 Packard, 1964 Lincoln Continental, and BMW motorcycle.

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He will be lovingly remembered by his family, neighbors, and CB buddies for sitting on his porch "root root rooting" for the Red Sox, calling the loons, announcing the "First Dog Watch" and exclaiming "Bravo" for fireworks. All visitors to his vacation abode were greeted with a hearty "Welcome" and departed with a sincere command for them to "Hurry back!"

He was a consummate gentleman, truly one of a kind, and we will never forget and forever miss his enthusiasm for life, recitations of poetry, unique sense of style, generosity, empathy, and his booming voice and beaming smile.

Bravo to a life well lived!

Clark is survived by his wife of 54 years, Sandra Janellyn Bailey Kendall; daughters Susan Lee Kendall of Belmont, Deborah Jane Kendall of Killington, VT and Jane Ellen Kendall Murphy and her husband Robert of Sudbury, MA.; six grandchildren Kenneth Oliver Freiner III of Bedford, Clark Kendall Freiner of Bedford, John Thomas Murphy, Katrina Clare Murphy, Julia Janellyn Murphy and Charles Joseph Murphy of Sudbury; his nephew Scott Hathaway Kendall of Lexington and niece Heidi Lynn Kendall Driscoll of Winchester and their families.

A memorial service was held at the First Baptist Church of Belmont, 129 Lexington St., on Tuesday.

Memorial donations may be made to the Larz Anderson Auto Museum of Brookline (larzanderson.org) 15 Newton St., Brookline, MA 02445. 


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