Obituary of Herbert Clancey

Herbert L. Clancey, retired owner of H.L. Clancey & Co., passed away with his family at his bedside on Friday morning, May 31, 2013. He was 87 years old. Herb was born in Medford, the son of the late Herbert and Edith Clancey, who had immigrated from Nova Scotia. He grew up in Somerville, MA. He served in the Army during the end of World War II and during the Occupation of Japan. While stationed in Japan, Herb learned to speak Japanese so that he could better communicate with the local residents. Upon his discharge in May of 1946, he received the Good Conduct Medal, American Theater Campaign Ribbon, Asiatic Pacific Theater Campaign Ribbon, Army of the Occupation Medal-Japan, and the WW II Victory Medal. Herb was exceptionally talented and skilled in a variety of ways. He owned and operated the H. L. Clancey Co., an industrial silk screening process printing company, for 45 years. The business began in his basement at home and expanded to shops in Woburn and Billerica. The company specialized in industrial and commercial screen printing for a wide array of applications including circuit board labeling, signage at the Museum of Science, commercial machinery, medical equipment, trade show displays, and aerospace and spacecraft equipment. Over the years, all of his children worked at his side learning the trade, challenging their minds, and listening to their Dad tell captivating stories and jokes as they worked. In 1970 Herb’s daughter gave him a book about building string instruments, and thus began a lifelong passion as a luthier. Until the week before his death, Herb repaired and built handcrafted string instruments of all kinds, including guitars, lutes, mandolins, violins, gambas, etc. For years he hosted a television show on BCAT called &quote;The Luthier Shop&quote; in which he used his current projects to demonstrate the art of crafting musical instruments. He also gave informative and entertaining lectures about instrument building at Philips Academy, Northern Essex Community College, Newburyport High School, and Hammond Castle. Herb's wife Mary, who passed away last October, was a true life partner, and their marriage served as a model for others. Mary recorded a weekly cooking show for BCAT TV, and Herb was her camera man, editor, prop person, taster, and even dishwasher. The show was a favorite not only because of the fantastic cooking but also because of the on-going banter between Herb and Mary, invariably informative, entertaining, humorous, and loving. Music was at the center of the Clancey household, and all of the children played multiple instruments. Herb and Mary and their children performed at Saint Malachy Church, weddings, rehabilitation centers, and numerous other events as the Clancy Family Folk Group. Music was a gift shared with others while it strengthened the ties within the Clancey family. With all of the special gifts, qualities, and talents Herb Clancey enjoyed, he was humble to the end, true to his values, and guided by his deeply religious beliefs. Herb was the loving husband of the late Mary Constance (Mansolilli) Clancey. He was the loving father of Richard Clancey & his wife Phyllis of North Hampton, Dianne Tavano & her husband John of Newburyport, Pamela Clancey of Brighton, Gregory Clancey & his wife Nancy of Tewksbury, and Brian Clancey of Merrimack, NH. Herb was the brother of John of Billerica, Francis of Dracut, and the late Robert. He was the proud grandfather of Andrea Gouveia of Portsmouth, NH, Linnea Tangorra of Amesbury, Richard & Ryan Clancey of Tewksbury and great grandfather of Olivia Gouveia, Joshua, Samuel, and Jacob Tangorra. Visiting hours Tuesday June 4 from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., Burlington (exit 34 off Rt. 128/95, Woburn side). Funeral service at the Sullivan Funeral Home on Wednesday June 5 at 9 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in Saint Malachy Church, 99 Bedford St., Burlington at 10 a.m. Interment to follow at Pine Haven Cemetery, Burlington. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Herb’s name may be made to the Missionary Sisters of Mary Immaculate, P.O. Box 967, Elmer, NJ 08318.