Many ex-pat residents knew John Clemens when he and his wife Ellie lived in Esperaza.Ellie has written that he died yesterday morning, in Bergerac hospital, of a severe heart attack.
Difficult to imagine that dry, drole wit being silenced... everyone will join me, I know, in a virtual hug for Ellie, plus the courage to cope with the huge hole he will leave in her life.
John was one of the NASA team that put a man on the moon. He kept trying to throw out the certificate that recorded the vote of thanks from congress. Ellie would bring it in again. We were so proud of having a rocket scientist in Esperaza! He used to fix our computers; how generous he was with his time and talents.
He was wise and wicked and funny, with a take on events that was always original, insightful. It came as no surprise to discover that he was a descendant of Mark Twain.
Very sad that he's gone. Many glasses will be raised to his memory over this weekend and beyond.
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