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On most days, Percy Clarke could be found in the e-Sports arcade of the Memorial Union. The 83-year-old retired lawyer worked for Campus Activities for 20 years in various capacities before dying of an apparent heart attack Wednesday.
“He was a really committed guy — committed to the university. He loved the university; he loved students,” said Robert Dana, dean of students at the University of Maine.
Percy was employed at the university through a federal program aimed at employing retired senior citizens part-time. He was the only person at the university employed through the program, Dana said.
Percy originally worked at Maine Bound, shuttling students and performing tasks such as repairing tents. Later, he was appointed caretaker of the arcade, where he meticulously cleaned the room and games and attended to students’ needs. He became a fixture of the arcade.
“Percy was a genuine Mainer,” said Kenda Scheele, associate dean of students at UMaine. “He loved the University of Maine. He was born and raised here. His family is from here. He was the heart of UMaine.” Scheele worked with Percy when she first came to UMaine and said he truly enjoyed the work he did for the university.
Percy was always more than willing to talk to students. He would often get involved in long conversations with students about the arcade, gathering opinions on particular games and ways to make the room better.
Less than a week before he died, Percy could be heard in the arcade speaking animatedly with a student about the history of the popular arcade game Dance Dance Revolution. But it was unusual to see the student do most of the talking; usually Percy was eager to entertain any willing ear.
And that attitude — willing to talk or listen to a student — made Percy the distinguished character he was.
David Welch, a UMaine student who frequents the arcade, said Percy was supportive of the arcade’s visitors.
“He very much liked his job and was very much concerned with the students having the arcade,” Welch said. “It certainly was his place.”
When students had concerns or suggestions about the arcade, Percy was eager to listen. He took time to respond with handwritten notes to suggestions, posting them on the wall of the e-Sports room.
“I think that’s what made him able to connect to people, is that he was very genuine. He wished nobody ill will, he was always willing to help and he loved students,” Scheele said. “It kept him young to be around campus and to be around students.”
When The Maine Campus wrote an article featuring Percy in December, Scheele said he “got such a kick out of that.”
“He took about 10 copies, brought them to everyone he knows, sent them to his daughter in California,” Scheele said.
Percy did not deteriorate near the end of his life, Dana said. Though he had medical problems, he continued to live by himself and perform all his own chores, such as mowing the lawn and shoveling the snow at his Bangor home. He also remained mentally strong.
“He was right on his game, I tell ya,” Dana said. “Sharp as a tack.”
Percy died while leaving work, Dana said. An ambulance took him to Eastern Maine Medical Center, but he was pronounced dead before he arrived at the hospital.
“I think he would have been thrilled,” Dana said. “I think he would have wanted to die with his boots on.”
Percy is survived by a son and a daughter.
