Pauline Agnes Clark OBITUARY
Pauline Agnes Clark (Novak), born to Nicholas F. Novak and Helen A. Lamb on October 11, 1940, in Jersey City, NJ, passed away peacefully at her home in Boulder, CO, on September 6, 2024, at the age of 83 after complications from scoliosis and heart failure.
Pauline grew up in Jersey City and Allenhurst, cultivating her love for city life and the sea. A standout student at Red Bank Catholic High School, she was known for her musical talent and contemplated a Broadway career. She attended Immaculata College, earning a cum laude BA in English in 1962, with minors in Education and Economics. Her professional career began as a high school English teacher at Haverford High School.
She pursued an MA in English Literature at John Carroll University, where she met Noel, whom she married in 1966. They moved to Cambridge, MA, for Noel's studies at MIT. While raising their children—Caitlin (1967), Ian (1970), and Maura (1971)—Pauline taught American literature at Northeastern U, UMass, and Fisher Junior College, and became a community activist. She co-created the Cambridge Schools' Adult Diploma Program, enabling adults to earn high school diplomas based on life experience, and began a career in nonprofit development, raising the funds for construction of the Cambridgeport Children's Center, now celebrating its 50th year.
In 1977, the family relocated to Boulder when Noel joined CU Boulder. Pauline thrived in Colorado, running and participating in many Bolder Boulders. She was the founding Development Director for public television station KBDI, and became a leader in various community organizations, including the San Juan Family Learning Center.
In 1980, she became the initial Executive Director of the Hall of Life in Denver, overseeing its establishment as a health teaching center, and fostering its growth over four years to serve more than thirty thousand students/year. Following her time at the Hall of Life, she became the Regional Development Director for the National Trust for Historic Preservation, later starting her own design business, Denver Design Works, and a gallery, Soho West.
Pauline's later years included extensive travel and involvement in her daughter's catering business, New World Cuisine. She cherished her role as grandmother to Cisco, Edwin, Maren, Teagan, and Hudson, celebrating family milestones.
In addition to her creative pursuits, she was a master gardener, avid runner, passionate chef, Pilates enthusiast, and collector of Native American and Southwestern art.
Pauline is survived by her sisters Kay Silsby, Joanne Dinero, brother Nick Novak, sister-in-law Mimi Novak, husband Noel Clark, children Caitlin, Ian, and Maura, and sister-in-law Evelyn Clark. She was preceded in death by her parents and two siblings.
A private service will be held on October 12th in Boulder, CO. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her honor to the Children's Scoliosis Foundation, ( or the San Juan Family Learning Center,
