Danny L. Clark

In the early morning hours of Thursday, October 10th, 2019, Danny Lane Clark, loving husband and father of two sons, passed away at the age of 72 due to complications associated with his treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Dan was born on February 12, 1947 in Honolulu, HI to William Verne and Doris E. (Beckman) Clark, but he moved to Benicia with his family in 1949, and was a loyal Benician all his life. As a boy, Dan was a boy scout and loved the outdoors. He carried that passion for camping into his adult life, taking his sons camping at his old campgrounds. He attended Sonoma State University, earning his degree in sociology in 1969, and received his law degree from John F. Kennedy University in 1987. He practiced criminal defense law with the Contra Costa County Public Defender’s Office in Martinez for approximately three decades. In January 1971, he married Pacia Winters, a 9 year marriage that produced his two sons, Joshua and Jeremy Clark. On October 22, 1991, Dan married Dyanne Vojvoda, the love of his life, a relationship that lasted 38 years until his passing. Dan had a passion for the theatre. He and Dyanne met while volunteering with the Benicia Old Town Theatre Group (BOTTG), and both have been working to produce community theater ever since. Dan has also been onstage as an actor, Director, and has worked behind the scenes building sets, stage managing, and continually served on the BOTTG board. He was an 8 time past BOTTG president. He also loved to attend the theatre; he and Dyanne were regulars at the Aurora and Berkeley Rep, and have been attending the Oregon Shakespeare Festival yearly since 1983, often with groups of friends. His was a life that moved to the rhythm of seasonal openings, long rehearsals, and always, always, getting ready for the next show. His love for and promotion of community theatre dovetailed with his love for the town of Benicia, and he loved Benicia dearly. Dan served on the Benicia Arts Council and the Benicia Historic Preservation Commission, giving back to the town that had given him so much. In his leisure time after retiring, between his theatre commitments, Dan lived the life of a bon vivant, enjoying fine wine, European travel, good food, cooking, collecting wine and fine art, visiting the wine country, and the yearly vacations with family and friends to the beautiful Club Cascadas in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Dan had a wide-ranging circle of friends, and every trip downtown would bring waived greetings, every dinner or cast party new introductions. Dan was preceded in death by his father, William, and his mother, Doris. He is survived by his wife Dyanne, his two sons, Joshua and Jeremy (Nikol), his brother Terry Clark, his niece Suzette Castillo, and a world full of the many friends whose lives he touched. The family would like to thank Dr. David Lee at Vallejo Kaiser, and Dr. Geoffrey Foster and the entire Kaiser Walnut Creek Nursing Staff, who made his last days as easy as they could be. A private Celebration of his Life is planned for later this year. Donations may be given in his name to Doctors Without Borders or Benicia Old Town Theatre Group.

Danny L. Clark

February 12, 1947 - October 10, 2019