JARVIS, Clinton E.
died on May 30, 2018, at age 93. He was raised on Isle La Motte, VT; he left the farm to serve in the Navy during WWII as an electronics technician's mate, trained in troubleshooting enemy aircraft recognition systems and other equipment, and took part in the Battle of Okinawa. After his honorable discharge in 1946, he finished high school and obtained a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Vermont on the GI Bill. He moved to New York City and in 1955 married actress Vivian Dorrance. Clint then pursued a M.S. in food technology at MIT in Cambridge, MA, but left the program to work at EG&G, a U.S. national defense contractor. In 1958, he and Vivian moved to Tucson, AZ, for his health. He was employed as an electrical engineer at Melpar Corp., Pan American Airlines, Bell Aerosystems, and the Pima County Air Pollution Control Dept.; in retirement he kept busy at Desert Laboratories. Clint was a lifelong learner and believed in the importance of education. He led discussions for young adults for the Great Books Foundation, was a founding member of the Tucson Cactus and Succulent Soc. and was active in the Tucson Gem and Mineral Soc. and the Tucson Humanist Soc. He loved classical music and sang in the chorus of the Tucson Gilbert and Sullivan Soc. and the Arizona Opera Co. He was a master gardener and maintained a lush container garden. In 2009, he developed throat cancer; although in remission, he suffered increasing disability from radiation side effects. He is survived by his wife, Vivian (Francesca) Jarvis; his children, Christina Jarvis (Martin Munro), Catherine Jarvis and Mark Jarvis; and many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by parents, Frank and Inez (La Bombard) Jarvis and brothers, Gerald and Howard Jarvis. We are grateful to his caregivers at the Arizona State Veteran Home and Catalina Post-acute Care Center but especially to the staff of SAVAHCS and the home health team, under whose care he enjoyed nine more years of life. We thank VA volunteer Col. (Ret.) Gopal Khalsa, who visited Clint weekly, obtained his service medals, and arranged for his travel to the WWII memorial in Washington, DC, on an Honor Flight; it was the highlight of his old age. We also thank friends John and Diane Boley, who traveled from Las Cruces to visit, and Miriam Huber, whose healing touch eased his passing. A Memorial will be held at Grace St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 2331 E. Adams St., on Sunday, July 15, 2018, at 4:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Tucson Cactus and Succulent Society, P.O. Box 84759, Tucson, AZ, 85728; Arizona Opera Company, 1636 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ, 85004; Grace St. Paul's Episcopal Church Healing Touch Ministry, 2331 E. Adams St., Tucson, AZ, 85719; or Honor Flight Southern Arizona, P.O. Box 32649, Tucson, AZ, 85751.
