Hello, my name is Melissa and I am organizing this fundraiser on behalf of my family after my stepfathers passing from a 2 year long battle with cancer.

For anyone who knew him (or even heard stories), Clarence was quite the character. Stubborn, brutally honest at times, fiercely independent, and a total handful….but he was also loving, thoughtful, funny, smart, giving, and protective of the ones he loved. In their first year as a couple, my mother was unfortunately diagnosed with breast cancer, but Clarence stuck by her side through one of her darkest moments. She always says that she knows they were meant for each other because she prayed for a good man and there he was. He showed her support when she needed it most, love & acceptance to her children, and ultimately they built a life together with the love, support and stability they had both always wanted….and for that, we will always be grateful to have had him in our lives.

Clarence was a loving husband, brother, father, uncle, friend and a devoted worker with the MTA as a bus operator for the last 15 years. There are moments we’ll always cherish, but for me, my fondest memories will be hearing him & my mom laugh together at night, how we would always talk about all things space related, all the times he’d help me choose outfits when I needed a second opinion, and just all the small moments in between..…He will be so missed by those that loved him, but I’m grateful to know he experienced love & joy during his time on earth, that he was able to share that with my mother & those around him, and that he can now rest easy in heaven.

It feels like you can never put together the right words to explain how you feel for someone that can fully express who they were and their importance in your life, but for anyone taking the time to read this, to those who share, who are able to donate, and for your support during this transition in our lives, Thank You a million times over. Our family is so appreciative.