Neil Scott Clark

Neil Scott Clark passed away suddenly on March 15, 2021. His spirit left this earth to join his wonderfully feisty mother, Nancy, and his loving stepfather, Roy Parker. Neil was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on April 30th, 1953, and was known as “Scotty” to his family and childhood friends. He was proud of his Sicilian roots and used his street smarts and quick wit to survive poverty in inner-city Cleveland. He played football for Cleveland Catholic High School and used the lessons learned on the playing field and through his youth to chart the course for his life. Neil believed in higher education to escape poverty so he put himself through college, obtaining a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Ohio University. He worked various jobs to support himself until he found his calling in politics. Employed by the Ohio Senate Republican Caucus as the Chief Operating Officer in the early 1980’s, he devoted countless hours after work to help Republicans gain the majority. He earned the nickname, “The 34th Senator” for his devotion, which he found most amusing. Neil’s passion for legislative issues took him from the Senate into political consulting. He was a founding member of State Street Consultants, widely regarded at the time as one of the premier lobbying firms in Ohio and he later formed Grant Street Consultants to once again become a valued and respected voice in politics. He believed everybody deserved representation at the Statehouse and he particularly enjoyed advocating for the underdog. While Neil’s career accomplishments are many and well-known to those who knew him, what mattered most to him was family. He is survived by his loving and supportive wife Colleen, whom he widely credited for making him a better man and for introducing him to healthier foods, something quite foreign to him. He cherished their time together, especially at the beach, and with their dogs CeCe and Demi, who appeared with them in many family photos. Neil’s greatest pride and joy are his surviving children, Mitchell Clark and Brittany Clark, who grew accustomed to meeting people who already knew all about them from Neil. Every school event, exam, graduation and overall accomplishment was heralded by their very proud Dad. Neil treasured the many family vacations, whether to Disney, visiting every state in the nation or sailing in the ocean. He often commented that he loved every moment of being their Dad. Neil is survived by his older sister Dennielle, her husband, Jim, and his sister-in-law Diane, her husband, Jeff, and many nieces and nephews. He was incredibly grateful for the friends who faithfully kept in touch with him and supported him, especially the last several months. In his spare time, Neil indulged his passion for art. He made stunning and detailed mosaics that he proudly gifted to family and friends. During quarantine, he perfected his cooking skills, baking fresh French bread and delighting his father-in-law, Ray Lora (Twila), with a homemade custard pie each week. And he was adamant that his meatball recipe was the best; “the more Romano cheese the better”. Throughout his life, Neil quietly believed in giving unexpected and unsolicited acts of kindness and generosity to strangers. He paid medical bills, bought groceries, gave money, clothing and household goods to people he met who needed help. He rarely spoke of these actions, keeping the best part of him to himself and to those who loved him. While he could command attention by walking into a room and was well-known for his intellect, it was his generous heart and the simple beauty of his kindness that made him who he was. Neil spent the last several months writing a memoir entitled What Do I Know? I’m Just a Lobbyist. In lieu of flowers, his family asks that contributions be made to Columbus Humane (fka Capital Area Humane Society) or Star House, a drop-in center for youth experiencing homelessness. A private celebration of his life will be held at a future time. Arrangements are being handled by Shikany's Bonita Funeral Home Family Owned and Operated Since 1978

Neil Scott Clark

April 30, 1953 - March 15, 2021