Kenneth R. Clay, retired professor, civic leader

Kenneth R. Clay, 79, a retired Rowan University professor and administrator and a Glassboro civic leader, died Wednesday, March 23, of Parkinson's disease at Shady Lane Home in Clarksboro.

In 1965, Dr. Clay joined Glassboro State College, now Rowan University, and became founding chairman of the Department of Industrial Education and Technology.

While at Rowan, he held administrative positions, including assistant to the president, director of institutional planning, and dean of academic administration. One of his proudest accomplishments before retiring in 1991 was supervising the planning for the Keith and Shirley Campbell Library, said his wife, Dorothy.

For 20 years, Dr. Clay served on the Glassboro Planning Commission and was a former chairman. He told The Inquirer in 1996 that he was optimistic about bringing new business to Glassboro because of its "excellent geographical location." The town, he said, had good access to major roads and did not have monstrous traffic jams.

Dr. Clay served on the board of United Way of Gloucester County for 30 years and was chosen as Volunteer of the Year in 1989. When he was chairman of the agency's strategic-planning committee in 1990, he told The Inquirer, "A lot of people want to help, to contribute, but don't know where the need is. United Way answers that problem because its committee allocates funds to community groups." Dr. Clay oversaw the renovation of the United Way building, which was completed in 2000.

From 1976 to 2008, he served on the board of Robin's Nest in Glassboro. As chairman of the planning committee, his wife said, he helped the agency grow from a residence for a dozen troubled girls to an organization that provides residential and in-home services to hundreds of children and their parents. The organization dedicated the Ken Clay Training Room in his honor.

Dr. Clay also served on the board of Gloucester County Habitat for Humanity, offering his expertise in planning, zoning, and property acquisition, as well as joining work crews on building projects.

The grandson of a carpenter, Dr. Clay enjoyed home-improvement projects and had converted his summer house in Sea Isle, N.J., into a duplex, his wife said. He collected antique tools and was a member of the Early American Industries Association.

Dr. Clay grew up on the Winterthur estate in Delaware, where his father was farm foreman. He earned a bachelor's degree from Millersville University and then served in the Army in the United States.

After his discharge, he taught industrial arts in the Rose Tree Media School District before earning a master's degree in education from Ball State University and a doctorate in education from Michigan State University.

Besides his wife of 33 years, Dr. Clay is survived by daughters Barbara Homack and Melinda Ota, stepsons Jay and Gary Wriggins, and six grandchildren.

A funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 29, at First Presbyterian Church, 305 S. Broadway, Pitman. Friends may call from 9:30 a.m. Burial will be in Manahath Cemetery, Glassboro.