M. Del (DeLanoy) Groner Clark; a Woman of Many Talents

On August 16, five days before her 100th birthday, M. Del (DeLanoy) Groner Clark passed away after a short illness. She was the oldest person in the Pilgrim Church and in the Town of Sherborn where she lived for 58 years.

Del was born in Yonkers, NY, the daughter of Anna Mortensen from Norway and Evert DeLanoy. Del was proud of her family’s American heritage. She is a descendent of several early American families who founded this nation. Among them were the DeLanoy family whose members were some of the earliest settlers of present day Manhattan in the 1630s.

At the age of 18 Del was appointed a page at the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) cotillion at Constitution Hall in Washington D.C. She was interested in history and remained a member of the DAR throughout her life. At the time of her death she was the oldest member of the Ames chapter in Wellesley, MA.

Del served as Curator of the Sherborn Historical Society for 20 years. Among her many accomplishments was the restoration of over 50 silhouettes of early town residents. Over a period of a year, she personally restored the images and identified all but two. The silhouettes may be seen at the Sherborn Historical Museum.

At age 98, Del wrote her memoir A True Renaissance Woman, which describes her accomplishments in many different fields. Her book can be obtained from the Sherborn Library. Del was an artist who worked in both oils and watercolors. She was renowned as an interior decorator and designed and made clothing for herself and her husbands as well as original home decorations. She knitted and crocheted linens in her own unique patterns.

Del had a zest for life and an indomitable personality. She enjoyed the company of others and in any group she was likely to be the spark that kept things lively. A longtime member of the Walpole Country Club, she enjoyed bowling and playing bridge and golf. She was a golf champion and won numerous trophies and silver cups.

Del had two devoted husbands. Her first husband, Lee Groner, was born in Watervliet, NY. He was a lifetime member of the Army Corps of Engineers and contributed to the design and building of the Pentagon. Her second husband, Robert Clark, was born in Amherst, MA. He worked at Telechron in Ashland and at Harvard Apparatus before retiring in 1970. Accompanied by her husbands Del traveled extensively around the world.

Del is survived by her sister Ruth D. Livermore of Fly Creek, NY and by five nephews and two nieces. Devoted caregivers and friends shared the last two years of her life.

A graveside service will be held at Pine Hill Cemetery in Sherborn on October 18 at 2 P.M. In lieu of flowers, friends may send donations to the Medfield Animal Shelter at PO Box 271, Medfield, MA 02052.