Ella Naomi Clark, daughter of Nicole Clark and Eric Clark, passed away suddenly on Saturday, February 13, 2021, at the home of her father. She was fourteen years old.
Ella had a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy that severely limited her physical abilities. She took her first steps as a toddler on a trip to Florence, Italy. However, by the time she reached adolescence she had to adjust to life in a wheelchair, a situation which she handled with tremendous courage and strength. In spite of her physical limitations, Ella found joy in her life, love in her family and friends and hope for her future. She dreamed of attending New York University after finishing high school.
Ella graduated with honors from Cedarbrook Middle School and was a freshman at Cheltenham High School. She enjoyed her English classes, participated in the Creative Writing Club and was involved in school theater productions as the lighting technician working the board for several shows.
Ella’s other interests included spending time with friends, listening to her absolute fave, Harry Styles, following fashion with colorful changing hair creations and trendy clothing.
Her firm opinions on fairness and justice deepened her into a true blue Liberal and vocal supporter of Black Lives Matter. She loved attending summer MDA camp. She was fiercely protective of and always attentive to her young sister, Viv.
In addition to her her parents and sister, Vivenne, Ella is survived by her grandmothers, Carol L. Clark and Clara E. Clark, as well as many family members and friends who will miss her fighting spirit, her determination to be her best, her intelligence and wicked sense of humor.
TV icon Mr. Rogers wrote: “If you could only sense how important you are to the lives of those you meet. . . . There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person.” That aptly describes Ella’s whose too short life left a far reaching impact on all who knew her.
A gathering to celebrate Ella’s life and memory will be announced at a future date.
