I.I.I.'s Charles 'Bud' Clarke Dead At 79

Charles C. "Bud" Clarke, a former executive vice president with the Insurance Information Institute in New York, died Tuesday at his home in West New York, N.J. He was 79.

His death was announced by the I.I.I., which gave the cause as cancer.

I.I.I. Executive Vice President Cary Schneider said Mr. Clarke had contributed enormously to public understanding of complex insurance issues, and was an extremely important contributor to the Institute's growth.

"He was greatly respected for his steady leadership and excellent judgment on industry matters," said Mr. Schneider, who worked with Mr. Clarke for 14 years.

"Bud early on recognized the importance of communicating directly with insurance consumers, and he had been a major influence in establishing the Institute's reputation as a reliable source of factual information on all aspects of property-casualty insurance," Mr. Schneider added.

Mr. Clarke was associated with the I.I.I. since its inception in 1960. He was responsible for all matters in the area of public information, including supervision of media relations, field services, special services and educational relations divisions.

From 1956 to 1960, Mr. Clarke served as Midwestern public relations director of the Association of Casualty and Surety Companies. The public relations functions of that organization, as well as those of seven other insurance organizations, were merged into I.I.I. when it was founded.

Born in Freeport, Ill., he graduated from the Marquette School of Journalism in 1949. Mr. Clarke worked in the Chicago office of National Underwriter. He later became associate editor of the publication as well as editor of the Insurance Exchange magazine.

Mr. Clarke was a member of the Public Relations Society of America, the Society of Professional Journalists, the Chicago Press Club, The Overseas Press Club, the New York Deadline Club, and the Drug and Chemical Club.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy Henzel Clarke, three children, Stephen, of Scotch Plains, N.J., Jenifer Kobilinski, of Green Township, N.J., and Kristen Johannsen of Huxley, Iowa. He also leaves five siblings and seven grandchildren.

A funeral mass will be held on Dec. 27 at 11:15 a.m. at St. Joseph of the Palisades Church in West New York, N.J. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The National Cancer Institute.