Katerina Clark died peacefully on February 1, 2024, from cancer. Katerina, "Katy," as she was
known by friends and family, led an extraordinary life filled with love.
Katy was born in Australia on June 20, 1941, to the late Dymphna Clark and the late Manning
Clark, the historian of Australia. Her parents' intellectual influences inspired her own eventual
passion for academia, particularly in Soviet culture. After spending several years in the Soviet
Union in the mid 1960s, she went on to earn her PhD at Yale University in 1971. She was a
professor at Wesleyan University, The University of Texas, Austin, and then Indiana University.
She eventually returned to Yale and remained actively teaching and writing for over forty years.
Her research and scholarly pursuits took her on marvelous travels and sabbaticals throughout
her life, which she cherished. Her passion and talent for her award-winning work were
undeniably rare and truly incomparable. Dr. Clark was regarded as a living legend in her field- a
world class academic whose influence will live on through her writing and through her many
students who sought out her knowledge and wisdom over the years.
An avid cyclist, Katy rode her bike just about everywhere in the New Haven, Connecticut area,
well into her 70s. She held strong convictions regarding health and fitness, often hiking
mountains with her sons and grandchildren in Vermont. She loved to swim and cherished
summer afternoons in the pool. Her joy for dancing was unparalleled, often dancing the night
away at family gatherings while younger family members looked on in awe.
Even stronger still were her convictions on generosity and family. She hosted jubilant family
gatherings each Thanksgiving, and fostered a sense of family commitment, hospitality, and joy.
All were welcome at her table. Her own commitment to her Australian family and heritage was a
firm priority for her - and she passed on these values fervently. Her love for her family and her
many childhood friends drove her and anchored her throughout her life.
Katerina is predeceased by her stepson, Joshua Holquist, her ex-husband James Michael
Holquist, her brother Axel Clark, and her sister-in-law Edwina Clark. She is survived by her son
Sebastian Holquist of Hamden, CT; and by her son Nicholas Holquist of Montpelier, VT and his
wife Sara, and their sons Marley and Julian Holquist. She is survived by her stepson Peter
Holquist of Bala Cynwyd, PA and his wife Diana, and their children Hana Holquist and Isaiah
Holquist; her stepson Benjamin Holquist of Ellicott City, MD, and his wife Carol, and their
daughter Meghan Holquist; and by her late stepson Joshua's wife, Martha Holquist of Cheshire,
CT. She is survived by her brother Sebastian Clark and his wife Liz Cham, brother Andrew
Clark, brother Rowland Clark and his wife Linda Elliott, brother Benedict Clark, sister-in-law
Alison Clark, and several beloved nieces and nephews, all of Australia.