H. Clarke Cugler

Harry Clarke Cugler, 96, of Salisbury died Wednesday, November 27, 2024, at his home in Salisbury. Born in Salisbury, Maryland, Clarke was the only child of the late Harry Clifford Cugler and Mary Ella White Cugler. Clarke was a loving son, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, mentor, teacher, and leader. He was a great optimist, who had a wonderful sense of humor, and was a great conversationalist. He was a very kind, gentle, intelligent man who was greatly respected, admired, and appreciated by many. Raised in Delmar, he graduated from Delmar Maryland High School in a class of 9, in 1945. He was the recipient of an athletic scholarship at the University of Maryland, where he played baseball during his first year. Finding he preferred a smaller college atmosphere, he transferred to State Teachers College, (now Salisbury University) in 1947, where he played soccer, basketball, and baseball. In 1949, he was selected as the Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year. He graduated with a B.S. Degree in political science and began his teaching career in 1950. While teaching, he continued his education and earned his master's degree. Clarke played baseball with the Central Shore League for 16 years. As an outstanding shortstop, he held the league record for most consecutive chances without an error (139) and the most stolen bases (60). He was inducted into the Eastern Shore Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984 and the Salisbury University Hall of Fame in 2002. He was dedicated to teaching and was innovative in methods he used to keep student interest. He taught school for 33 years, with the last 26 years at Delmar Senior High School, where he chaired the History Department. He believed in his students' capabilities and always tried to make teaching interesting, exciting and challenging for them. During his entire time of teaching, he also coached basketball, soccer and baseball and later served many years as a basketball referee. Continuing his interest in school and the community, he held a seat on the Delmar Town Council for 12 years. Upon retiring from teaching, he worked as a rural relief mail carrier for 13 years. Even through his years of playing, coaching and refereeing had ended, he maintained a keen interest in sports and a desire to be involved with youth. He served on the Board of Directors of the Eastern Shore Baseball Foundation for 10 years and the Delmarva Peninsula Golf Association for 16 years. He was dedicated to advancing the love of golf on Delmarva and to further develop an already active scholarship program. He was a life-time member of St. Stephens United Methodist Church (Delmar) and he also attended the Calvary Baptist Tabernacle (Salisbury). He was an avid reader and had a keen interest in history, architecture, and other cultures; he and Carol began taking extensive trips throughout Europe after Clarke retired. They visited 23 countries and toured them in-depth. They also traveled extensively throughout most of the U.S. He is survived by his son, Keith Clarke Cugler, (Denise) of Dagsboro DE; daughter-in-law Jerrann C. Cugler, (Annie) of Crisfield, MD; granddaughter Jamie Cugler Emely, (Erik) and great grand-daughter Emma Grace Cugler Emely of Crisfield; sister-in-law, Gwen M. Meinster (Salisbury); and very special friends, John and Sandra McMullen of Delmar. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Carol M. Cugler; his son, John Clifford Cugler; and his first wife, Norma Bozman Cugler, the mother of his two sons. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at St. Stephen's Church in Delmar. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow the service in St. Stephen's Cemetery in Delmar. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be sent to the Delmar Alumni Association Scholarship Program, for a scholarship in his name, c/o Gary Riley, 2643 May Twilley Rd., Delmar, DE 19940. Arrangements are in the care of Short Funeral Home in Delmar. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.shortfh.com.

H. Clarke Cugler

June 9, 1928 - November 27, 2024