Ormstedt, David E.

John R. Clark, one of the founders of Crary, Clark & Domanico, P.S., died October 8, 2010, in Spokane, after a two year battle with cancer. Mr. Clark, age 58, practiced law since 1980. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri. He graduated from Webster Groves High School in Webster Groves, Missouri, and graduated from University of Missouri at Columbia. He then attended Gonzaga University School of Law, graduating Cum Laude in 1980.

John joined classmates Rob Crary and Jim Domanico, and established a law practice in the Spokane Valley, now known as Crary, Clark & Domanico, which has continued for almost 30 years.

John was Crary, Clark & Domanico’s Criminal Defense attorney.  He was a fierce defender of the underdog.  He believed in the good of all men and was quick to give people a second, third…or fourth chance.  He trained Dean Chuang in all aspects of criminal law, who is now his successor.

Mr. Clark was very involved in the community.  He served on the boards of the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association (now the Association for Justice), the Washington Association of Criminal Defense, and the Spokane County Bar Association. He was a member of the NRA and the American Civil Liberties Union. He received the Smithmoore P. Meyers Professionalism award in March 2010, and was equally proud of being made an honorary member of the Spokane County Public Defender’s office that same month.  In 1990 John was named Pro Bono attorney of the year by the Spokane County Bar Association. He generously gave his time to the volunteer lawyer program Street Law, providing free advice to the public.  He was named as one of Spokane’s best attorneys in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 by the readers of Spokane/Couer d’Alene Living Magazine.

The Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) announced, in March 2011, that it is honoring John, posthumously, with its Local Hero Award, as a memorial of his lifelong dedication to pro bono work. The Local Hero Award is presented by the WSBA Board of Governors as it travels around the state to those who have made noteworthy contributions to their communities.

When he wasn’t at work, John enjoyed spending time at the cabin in Northport, Washington, turkey hunting, riding four-wheelers, and just savoring the beauty of the mountains and the woods.  In addition to the law, John was passionate about cars, racing, anything WWII, firearms and old farm engines.

We are proud to have had a long association with such an outstanding man, attorney and community supporter.