Obituary of Mark Jamal Clinton

Mark Jamal Clinton, age 36, lost his battle to sickle cell disease, on July 16, 2020 in Great Barrington, MA. Mark was born in the Bronx, NY on August 17, 1983. He resided in a Brooklyn foster home until he came to live with the Clintons in April 1989. Later that year his adoption was finalized. He attended high school at the Riverview School on Cape Cod and graduated in 2002. He attended college at New York Institute of Technology on Long Island from 2002-2004. Mark's central challenge was sickle cell disease, causing multiple crises which disrupted education, employment and a sense of normalcy. Still, he maintained a positive attitude and displayed phenomenal bravery, stoicism and resilience. For Mark, music was a lifelong passion. He relished listening to many genres and attending concerts, theater and dance events. He enjoyed watching sports and, during healthier times, participated in basketball, soccer, swimming, biking and skiing. He was a member of Overcomers Ministries when he resided in Ghent. Mark is survived by his loving parents Janet and Louis, grandfather, Henry Clinton Sr., great aunt Jayne (Timothy); aunts Valerie, Carol, Brenda, Cynthia, Sheila; uncles Roger, James and Bradford and a host of cousins including Wakima, Tawana, Nydia, Jamera, Serena, Christopher, J'lyn, Amari and Denell. He leaves behind a host of extended family members and friends. A viewing will take place on Wednesday July 22 from 5 to 8 pm at the Raymond E. Bond Funeral Home, Valatie, and a private funeral at Memory's Garden in Colonie on Thursday, July 23rd. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to New York State Sickle Cell Advocacy Network Inc.; New York Chapter of SCDAA, 207-08 Hollis Avenue, Queens Village, NY 11429.