Glenna Harney Clark passed away peacefully on Jan. 25, 2026. She will be remembered by many as “the lovely and vivacious,” a phrase her husband used affectionately and one that captured her spirit well.

Born and raised in Marblehead, Massachusetts, Glenna was the daughter of Julie and Michael Harney and proudly considered herself a lifelong “Header.” She formed deep friendships early in life and maintained them across decades, remaining closely connected to friends from childhood through her final years

Glenna graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and began her career as a social worker before finding her true calling in education. A teacher through and through, she devoted her professional life to supporting young people. Her longest and most impactful tenure was at Saxe Middle School in New Canaan, Connecticut, where she worked as a special education teacher. She was known for her creativity, compassion, and belief in her students, particularly her ability to spark engagement in math through games and real-world experiences.

While living in Boston after college, Glenna met Robert Clark of Boothbay Harbor, Maine. They married in 1960 and spent the next two years traveling, skiing, and working across Switzerland before settling in Wellesley, Massachusetts. After several years, they moved to Darien, Connecticut, where they raised their three children.

Boothbay Harbor held a central place in Glenna’s life from the earliest years of her marriage and remained a cherished summer home for more than six decades. It was a place of enduring friendships, community involvement, and family tradition, especially in the years following the family’s time in Darien. There, Glenna hosted an annual Belmont Stakes party, volunteered with the Wawenock Pond Association and Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club events, and continued volunteering at St. Andrews Thrift Store, a place she cared deeply about.

After their years in Darien, Glenna and Bob made their full-time home in the Willoughby Golf Community in Stuart, Florida, while continuing to return each summer to Boothbay Harbor. Bob died in 2016, after 56 years of marriage. Glenna never stopped teaching, remaining active and deeply engaged in community life by raising funds for breast cancer survivors as a survivor herself, tutoring students over many years, teaching Mah Jong to friends with patience and joy, attending water aerobics and book club, and maintaining a wide circle of friends.

Glenna was a devoted mother and grandmother and shared a special bond with each of her grandchildren. She delighted in creating meaningful experiences and lasting memories with them and took great joy in their lives.

She is survived by her children Deborah (Clark) Holden and her husband Kevin Holden of Glen Allen, Virginia; Robert Clark of Darien, Connecticut; and Betsy (Clark) Balmat and her husband Daniel Balmat of Pleasant Hill, California. She is also survived by her grandchildren R.H. Clark; Evan Holden and his spouse Julie Wang; Julia Clark; Tommy Balmat; Nicholas Holden; and Michael Balmat.

Glenna will be remembered with affection by family and friends in Marblehead, Boothbay Harbor, Darien, Stuart, and beyond.

In lieu of flowers, go enjoy an ice cream and celebrate a life well lived. Glenna would have loved that.