Joseph Gazzam Clarkson

Joseph Clarkson

YORK – Joseph Gazzam Clarkson (born Joseph Murphy Gazzam III), age 84, died in Rock Hill, SC, on Thursday, February 27, 2015.

Mr. Clarkson was born in Philadelphia, PA, to Aileen de la Tour Clark and Joseph M. Gazzam Jr. He graduated from St. Paul’s School in Concord, NH, and Harvard College, where he was a member of the squash team and belonged to the Fly Club. He also studied at Johns Hopkins University, where he was a member of the Delta Phi fraternity. He piloted fighter jets in the United States Air Force, carved and painted ducks, played squash as often as possible, and founded several businesses, held numerous patents, and played cornet in several Dixieland bands. He was quite the Renaissance man.

Mr. Clarkson was a member of the Maryland and L’Hirondelle clubs, and was a Vestry member and lector at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Parkville, Md. After retiring to South Carolina, he became a communicant at the Church of the Good Shepherd in York.

Mr. Clarkson is survived by his daughter, Cheney Gazzam Baltz (Bruce) of York, SC; two sons, Joseph Carroll Gazzam (Laurie) of Los Angeles, CA, and William Abbott Clarkson (Mariely) of Fort Lauderdale, FL. He also is survived by three grandchildren, Corinne, Ian, and Rex.

A memorial service will be held at the Church of the Good Shepherd in York at 3:00 PM on Saturday, March 7, 2015 with Rev. Roxanne Ruggles officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Church of the Good Shepherd, PO Box 437, York, SC 29745.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.brattonfuneralhome.com. Bratton Funeral Home in York is serving the Clarkson family.