I just hope and pray that one student would have found some inspiration in what I taught. That would make me happy.
Kathleen Brook Stevens Clark
1940-2015
Those were the words of a humble Kathy Clark just days before she succumbed to cancer. In fact, Kathy taught nearly 8,000 students over a 46-year career at Coronado Junior High School (Middle School). Her impact on not just one, but on thousands of those students can be seen in the outpouring of affection currently being paraded on Facebook in response to her passing.
Kathy Clark was born the day the Germans marched into Paris. She would go on to win the Miss Coronado Beauty Contest and narrowly lose the Miss San Diego Fairest of the Fair title to future Hollywood sex kitten Raquel Welch. That same year, Kathy was Marilyn Monroes personal assistant during the filming of Some Like It Hot at the Hotel del Coronado.
Kathy Clark passed Friday, September 4, at Coronado Hospital, surrounded by loved ones. She was 75. Throughout all her many adventures and teaching experiences, her pride and joy was her family.
Kathleen Brook Stevens was the older of two children born to John Douglas Stevens and Eliza Readman Stevens Holcomb. Her father was a naval aviator who had attended prep school, graduated from the Naval Academy and was flying in WWII before his 20th birthday. Kathy adored him.
A Navy brat, Kathy Stevens (left) is seen here enjoying her father’s duty station in Hawaii. Notice how her toes are curled under. She said she did that her entire life.
Under orders from the US Navy, the Stevens family traveled from Virginia to Hawaii; From Washington DC to Imperial Beach; and finally to Coronado. Kathys first visit to Coronado was the summer of 1950 at the age of ten. She remembered her parents renting a Palmer House at 425 J, and sneaking into the Hotel del Coronado with her girlfriends at all hours.
We would run across the rooftop with nothing to hold on to, she said. My best girlfriend, Ky Winchester, and I would run from one rooftop turret to the other. We knew every hallway, corridor, tunnel, hiding place, storage room. The Del was different back then. There was a large front porch near the entrance, where old men sat in wicker rockers all day long reading newspapers. We considered the Del our own personal playground.
In this rare shot, Kathy Stevens (left) is seen sitting with friend Wende Wagner, who would go on to become a world-class SCUBA and free diver, Hollywood stunt woman, and actress of some note. She was also a regular in the popular TV series, “The Green Hornet.” Wende was discovered by legendary director Billy Wilder, in the crowd, during filming of “Some Like It Hot.”
Kathy Stevens’ high school graduation portrait, 1958.
Miss Coronado 1958. Kathy Stevens. She and her friends entered the noon contest at 10 a.m. that morning as a lark. Little did she know how that “lark” would change her life.
As Miss Coronado, Kathy Stevens would go on to compete in San Diego’s Fairest of the Fair at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, where she lost narrowly to La Jolla’s Jo Raquel Tejada. Raquel would later become legendary Hollywood femme fatale Raquel Welch.
Eventually her father bought a home on Margarita Avenue. It was 1952 or 1953, remembered Kathy. It was a brand new home, never before lived in. He paid $20,000. Daddy sold his life insurance policy to get the down payment and he never looked back. It seemed the end of the world, known to locals back then as the Coronado Flats. There was literally nothing down there.
Kathy attended 7th and 8th grades in Coronado. At the start of 9th grade her father was ordered to DC where she attended Oxen Hill High School for two years. After that the family moved to Quantico, VA where she attended her junior year at the Department of Defense School. There were 17 people in her class, many of whom she remained close to throughout her adult life.
When Kathy Stevens married Ron Clark, she inherited two young sons. “It was my great privilege to watch them grow into wonderful men,” she would say. “They are my sons now, and I’m so proud of them.” They are seen here after ten hours at Disneyland. John Clark is on the left, and Bill Clark at their feet.
In 1957 the Stevens family returned to Coronado where Kathy attended her senior year at Coronado High School, graduating in 1958. I already knew a bunch of people, so it was like coming home, she said.
One morning Kathy and her girlfriends decided at the last minute to enter the Miss Coronado Beauty Contest. It was 10 in the morning and the contest was to be held at noon. We said, Lets just do it, and I won.
When teacher Mr. Clark married teacher Ms. Stevens, it was the talk of the town. “I didn’t like him at all when we first met,” said Kathy. “I thought he was an intellectual snob. He thought I was some dumb party girl. Then, I took SCUBA lessons and he was one of the instructors. He said, ‘Whoever gets 100% on their written test will be allowed to dive to 100 feet on their check-out dive.’ Well, I scored perfectly on that test. Ron was my dive buddy and after that, we were smitten. I tease him that he had to get me drunk to fall in love with him. When you deep dive, every 33 feet has the effect on you of drinking a martini. It took Nitrogen Narcosis to win my heart,” she laughed.
Winning Miss Coronado required her to participate in the San Diego Fairest of the Fair Beauty Contest. Here she came in second place to a La Jolla girl named Jo Raquel Tejeda, who would later become legendary Hollywood actress Raquel Welch.
That was a busy year for the reigning Miss Coronado. She worked at the Hotel del Coronado as a hostess and social director. She ran treasure hunts on the beach for children of guests, and showed movies in what used to be the Circus Room.
One day she came to work and her boss said, You go and be with Marilyn. He was referring to actress Marilyn Monroe, who was staying at the Del during filming of Some Like It Hot.
I was floored, said Kathy. I remember thinking I wish Id been assigned to Jack Lemmon. During filming I took Marilyn iced tea and dry towels in her private cabana, and became her personal gopher. She was always polite, always thanked me, but I got the feeling she just wanted the day to be over. I remember she wasnt haughty in the least. Instead, I found her to be very sad, shy and timid. It surprised me, because she was so sexy looking.
Running was her passion. Kathy Clark is seen here in one of Coronado’s first half marathons, running down Glorietta Boulevard past the Coronado Golf Course. Photos by Joe Ditler.
I eventually got to meet Jack Lemmon and Joe E. Brown. I also got to meet Tony Curtis. Of course, he was a major heartthrob. I was so bummed, she laughed. He never hit on me even once. In real life, Kathy was a distant cousin to actresses Betty White and Marion Ross on her grandmothers side.
Also during her reign as Miss Coronado Kathy was asked to go on a date with actor John Waynes son Patrick, then a budding movie star. They spent an entire day waterskiing, dining and attending the Jai Alai in Tijuana. I think he made one Western with his dad, said Kathy. He was handsome and a real nice guy, but he werent [sic] no Duke.
Kathy and her daughter Jennifer Buzby.
Another time she was dinner escort to Greeces Prince Constantine (later King Constantine) – again representing Coronado in her capacity as reigning Miss Coronado.
Kathy attended San Diego State when it was only about 7-8,000 people strong. She majored in English and minored in journalism, graduating in 1962.
Kathy with her two grown sons in Hawaii – John Clark (left) and Bill Clark.
After graduation, Kathy applied to Coronado Junior High School for a job as secretary. John Baker, my 7th grade science teacher, pulled me aside and politely reminded me that I had a college degree. He asked how many words I could type. I think I said ten.
He said No, no, no. This job isnt for you. You need to teach.
Kathy taught junior high school English for two years before the school district realized what a treasure they had in her. They put her under contract and she taught another 40 years full time – two at the high school and the rest at the junior high. Even after her retirement she returned as a substitute teacher for another four years.
“He’s the one and only true love of my life. There’s no other way to put it,” said Kathy of her beloved husband Ron. “I knew I loved him when, while dating, he would read The Hobbit aloud to me. He still reads to me poetry.”
Clearly this was what I was meant to do. It was heaven, she often said of the blessings of being able to teach so many children. Truly this was a special woman who leaves behind a special legacy. As this is being written, hundreds of messages are flooding in describing her as great teacher, changed my life forever, taught me lessons Ive taught my own children and grandchildren, my favorite teacher, Her grace, elegance and beauty were known to everyone who ever met her. Some even recited lessons she had taught them decades ago, such as the list of 23 helping verbs she made children memorize.
Among the organizations Kathy supported were the Armed Services YMCAs Avant Garde, Coronado Republican Women, the Wounded Warrior Foundation and Noah Homes.
Kathy and Ron Clark before the Military Ball. Ron was a decorated Marine in the Korean War.
She was extremely active in her church, Coronados Christ Episcopal Church, teaching cooking to enlisted women on limited incomes, providing Christmas for children whose fathers were deployed, and staging an off-season Christmas for them when their fathers returned. She also served on the Vestry, taught Sunday school and ran the childrens choir.
Kathy Clark is survived by her husband Ron Clark, who she was fond of describing as, The one and only true love of my life. Her younger brother Doug Stevens of San Diego also survives her.
If life is all about making a difference and inspiring others, these two did their job in spades. There is an army of people singing their praises for everything from “teacher,” “neighbor,” “friend” and “family.”
“She is survived by her son Jon Clark and wife Joy of Hawaii; her Son Bill Clark and wife Marina of San Diego; and her daughter Jennifer Buzby and husband Rob of Coronado; along with 10 wonderful grandchildren, and one great grandchild.”
Services will be held September 19 at 2 p.m., at Coronado Christ Episcopal Church. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Coronado Yacht Club towards the end of October. Date to be announced.
Kathy Clark, an extraordinary person with a mission to make our children better people. She taught nearly 8,000 Coronado children. She enjoyed every day of her life and lived each to the fullest. We are all better people for having had her in our lives.
The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Kathy Clark Memorial Fund. To do that, please go to www.humphreymortuary.com, click on the “Kathleen Clark” link in the “Obituaries and Services” box on the right hand side of the website. Instructions for donations can be found on Kathy’s page. The contributions will be shared with Christ Episcopal Church and the Wounded Warrior Project.
