George Clarke, 82, of Cazenovia, passed away quietly September 15, 2015 surrounded by his family. He was born on April 4, 1933 in New York City to Cecil and Linda Clarke. He was the third of four siblings. George graduated from Stuyvesant High School and from the Teachers College at Columbia University in New York City. He earned his Doctorate in Chemistry at Penn State University and went on to become a Professor of Chemistry at the University of Miami in Florida. While at the University of Miami, George was promoted as the Associate Dean of the College of Arts & Science. He later became the Dean of Arts & Sciences at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, CT. George lived his life with a passion for knowledge and was constantly teaching himself new things. He enjoyed photography, gardening, genealogy and playing the guitar, but he loved spending time with his family and pets more than anything. George was creative and genuine, but most of all he had an amazing sense of humor. He will be sorely missed by all of his family and friends. He is survived by his wife, Janice Clarke; his daughters, Kristin (Jim) Nichols and Jill (Jared) Clarke-Ek, a sister, Barbara Ruppel; and his grandchildren, Walker and Ben Nichols, Nesibu and Bilen Clarke-Ek. Funeral services were private and held at Evergreen Cemetery in Cazenovia on Saturday, September 19, 2015. Michael E. Brown Funeral Services, Cazenovia has care of arrangements.