Edwin Stetson Clarke
September 21, 1938 - September 29, 2026

Edwin Stetson Clarke of Framingham, Massachusetts passed away on September 29, 2026 at Tufts Medical Center at the age of 87. He was the son of the late Edwin Leavitt Clarke and Mary Stetson Clarke. He was born in East Orange, New Jersey on September 21, 1939. His father was an electrical engineer, and his mother wrote a number of books; novels of historic interest as well as writings about the Ironwork and the old Middlesex Canal.

Edwin Stetson graduated from Melrose High School and earned both a bachelor's and a master's degree in civil engineering from the University of Alaska. He lived in Fairbanks for over 40 years and worked with several engineering firms and worked on the Alaska Pipeline. He established the firm of Soils Alaska, PC which specialized in permafrost identification and assessment.

He was married to Alta Pauline Pence who was a teacher and helped to put him through school. She was born in California to Paul and Wilda Pence. Alta passed away at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital on October 6, 2007. She was an active part of the drilling team when she was not teaching.

Ed's professional contributions reached well beyond his own firm. He edited 'Permafrost Foundation: State of the Practice', published in 2007 by the Society of Civil Engineers and contributed several chapters. Through his engineering practice and writings, he shared knowledge gained from years of working in Alaska and helped others understand the challenges of building on permafrost.
In 1969, he was a scientific observer aboard the SS Manhattan on its voyage from New Jersey through the Northwest Passage to Alaska.

In 1995, he purchased a condominium in Maui, Hawaii where he spent winters for many years. Always generous to family and friends, he welcomed several visitors to Alaska and Hawaii. By opening his homes to them, he shared the places that had become important parts of his life. Those visits offered opportunities to spend time together, deepen friendships, and create lasting memories.

Following the loss of his wife Alta, he traveled to Massachusetts to visit his sisters and an old friend Jane Letteney, a widow who had been married to his childhood friend, Kim Letteney. Ed and Kim had spent many happy hours together working on cars and building engines.

Ed soon hightailed it over to Jane's to see what she was up to and asked Jane if she had ever been to Bermuda. Jane replied 'no' she had not, and asked Ed when he was thinking about going and he replied 'tonight'!

On October 10, 2009 Ed and Jane were married in Jane's backyard overlooking the Sudbury River. Their neighbor, Ed Moore played the trumpet. A large contingency of Alaska friends arrived with fish and a special tent was put up just for the Alaskans.

Beginning January of 2026, Ed began having many heart issues and required a lot of intensive hospital admissions. Two days before he passed, he asked Jane to travel on a Ohio River cruise with him.

A celebration of Ed's life will be held at First Parish in Framingham in Scott Hall on Friday October 16th @ 12:00-3:00.

Visitation: Fri 16 Oct 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm.  Scott Hall - First Parish in Framingham Unitarian Universalist, 24 Vernon Street, Framingham MA 01701

Obituary from: McCarthy, McKinney, & Lawler, Framinham, MA