Necrology

William Clarkin '43

Mar. 1, 1922-May. 29, 2006

William Henry Clarkin ’43, a professor emeritus of the School of Library and Information Science at the State University of New York, Albany, was born on March 1, 1922, into an Irish-American family, in Whitesboro, NY, where he grew up. A son of Harry Clarkin, a factory worker, and the former Mary Scouten, Bill Clarkin came up to College Hill from nearby Westmoreland High School in 1939. A commuting student, he left the College for financial reasons at the end of his freshman year and later obtained a B.A. degree from the University of Western Ontario. Committed to the academic life, he subsequently earned a Ph.D. from the University of Ottawa and a master’s in library science from Rutgers University.

Bill Clarkin initially taught history at Bennett College in Poughkeepsie, NY, before joining the faculty of SUNY Albany. He remained at Albany for many years, teaching in the School of Library and Information Science. Scholarly and genially erudite, he customarily spoke rather than lectured and without the benefit of notes. He concluded his career as the university library’s chief bibliographer.

A former president of the Print Club of Albany and a book collector and flower gardener, William H. Clarkin was devoted to his Roman Catholic faith. He was still a resident of Albany when he died on May 29, 2006, while hospitalized in Ilion, NY. Unmarried, he is survived by a sister, Mary Warner, and a brother, James Clarkin, as well as nieces and nephews.

Necrology Home