Patricia Clark

STERLING - Patricia Anne (Yatsko) Clark, 68, passed away peacefully in her sleep on August 3, 2025, at her home in Sterling, following a courageous battle with ALS. She is survived by her devoted husband of 42 years, Dave; daughter Jessica and son-in-law Robert, and beloved grandson Joaquín of Takoma Park, MD; son James of Lancaster; son Ryan and daughter-in-law Crista of Providence, RI; and two sisters, Eileen Geoghegan and Carolyn LaMacchia.

Patricia was born in Philadelphia, PA, the eldest of three daughters of James and Mary (Burke) Yatsko. From a young age, she was nurturing and imaginative: caring for her sisters, filling notebooks with drawings, inventing characters and stories, and hatching elaborate plans. She graduated from Archbishop Prendergast High School in 1974 and began college as a violin performance major before eventually earning a degree in computer science from Temple University in 1980.

She began her career at Bell Labs as a software engineer, contributing to an early version of LaTeX, a programming language for typesetting mathematical documents. Bell Labs sent her to Cornell University, where she earned a Master of Engineering in Operations Research in 1981 and met her soulmate, Dave. They married in 1983, moved to Massachusetts the following year, and settled in Sterling in 1985, where they raised their three children.

While raising her family, Pat's creative and intellectual gifts flourished. She taught piano lessons, played organ at church, designed sets for community theater, photographed dogs, coached Odyssey of the Mind, and participated in local politics. She was a whirlwind of activity and joy, diving into her children's projects with boundless energy. She made Halloween costumes by hand, baked almond bread and homemade pizza, and crafted elaborate art projects. She remained a lifelong learner, taking courses in C++ and Java, and was often ahead of the curve when it came to health food trends, embracing quinoa and flax seeds long before they were popular.

In 2004, Pat earned a degree in mathematics education from Fitchburg State University and began teaching at Nashoba Regional High School. Over 17 years, she taught math and computer science. Her favorite classes included calculus, Java programming, and statistics. She was a beloved teacher known for her sharp wit, tireless dedication, and ability to draw a perfect SpongeBob on the blackboard.

Pat retired in 2021 following a diagnosis of aggressive renal cancer. Though she successfully overcame that illness, she was later diagnosed with ALS in January 2024. Even as her mobility declined, Pat remained deeply engaged in her art, guiding teams of friends in creating mixed-media and experimental pieces. She was a constant source of joy and inspiration to those around her, welcoming a steady stream of friends, students, colleagues, caregivers, and family members. She kept Dave busy fulfilling her increasingly adventurous culinary wishes. She also continued her civic engagement, organizing a major ALS fundraiser and helping to plan her son's wedding.

Pat will be remembered as a multifaceted genius: a gifted artist, an inspiring teacher, a warm and funny friend, and a brilliant woman who brought creativity and joy into every part of her life. She made people laugh with her quirks and malapropisms, and left a lasting mark on all who knew her.

Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date. A private celebration of life will be held for close family and friends to honor Pat and share cherished memories. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Pat's memory may be made to the ALS Association, 1300 Wilson Blvd, Suite 600, Arlington, VA 22209, or als.org (https://als.org/).

Arrangements entrusted to the care of Miles-Sterling Funeral & Tribute Center, 100 Worcester Rd., Sterling.