Franklin High School graduate, victim of COVID-19, remembered
In the early morning hours of May 6, COVID-19 took the life of a 40-year-old husband, father of two young children, and 1998 Franklin High School graduate.
Clinton Washington, a three sport letterman for the Knights, is being remembered today by friends and family for his enormous heart and empathy towards his fellow man.
By all accounts, on Wednesday the world lost someone it needs now more than ever.
Clinton Washington, a three sport letterman for the Knights, is being remembered today by friends and family for his enormous heart and empathy towards his fellow man.
By all accounts, on Wednesday the world lost someone it needs now more than ever.
The Bronx neighborhood where Clinton lived has been hard hit with the virus according to his mother, Dr. Joanne Washington, former communications professor at Clarion University. Clinton's wife had the virus and recovered. His two children are healthy. His mom said Clinton had some underlying health problems, but he was only 40 years old.
This virus doesn't care.
The Bronx has been called the epicenter of the COVID-19 cases in New York City. As of Saturday afternoon the total cases in the city was over 177,000 with 14,482 confirmed deaths and more than 5,000 probable deaths. The Bronx has the highest percentage of cases per 100.000 of the boroughs.
Clinton's age group put him at lower risk of death, but he ended up in the hospital hooked up to a ventilator with difficulty breathing. Though he appeared to be getting a little better, something turned dramatically and he passed away Wednesday.
Few days later, Dr. Washington shared several tales about her son growing up in Franklin.
Clinton graduated from Franklin High School in 1998. He was a star athlete who excelled in football, wrestling and baseball. But sports wasn't what defined him.
His mother tells a story that exemplifies the person he was even at an early age. If he wanted to play ball with his friends, but he was helping his mom, who was working on her PHD, he would put his baby sister in a stroller and take her to the park with him and check on her constantly despite being being needled about if by his friends.
"He would always be back home when I told him to, pushing his sister in the stroller," Joanne said.
The teachers at Franklin's Seventh Street Elementary School even recognized his caring, especially with his little sister, by giving him the Citizenship Award in the sixth grade.
This virus doesn't care.
The Bronx has been called the epicenter of the COVID-19 cases in New York City. As of Saturday afternoon the total cases in the city was over 177,000 with 14,482 confirmed deaths and more than 5,000 probable deaths. The Bronx has the highest percentage of cases per 100.000 of the boroughs.
Clinton's age group put him at lower risk of death, but he ended up in the hospital hooked up to a ventilator with difficulty breathing. Though he appeared to be getting a little better, something turned dramatically and he passed away Wednesday.
Few days later, Dr. Washington shared several tales about her son growing up in Franklin.
Clinton graduated from Franklin High School in 1998. He was a star athlete who excelled in football, wrestling and baseball. But sports wasn't what defined him.
His mother tells a story that exemplifies the person he was even at an early age. If he wanted to play ball with his friends, but he was helping his mom, who was working on her PHD, he would put his baby sister in a stroller and take her to the park with him and check on her constantly despite being being needled about if by his friends.
"He would always be back home when I told him to, pushing his sister in the stroller," Joanne said.
The teachers at Franklin's Seventh Street Elementary School even recognized his caring, especially with his little sister, by giving him the Citizenship Award in the sixth grade.
Clinton's mother described him as a renaissance man - an athlete who learned to sew and knit. She said he was an artist and loved to cook. She told of his prom night where he cooked a lobster dinner and set a candlelit table for his date. He sewed his own letter on his letterman jacket as well as toys for his sister. She said he was chivalrous and would always offer his hand even when he was very young.
"He was a great person who would compliment people," she said. It was also a known fact that if someone made him something to eat he would tell them it was the best thing he ever had.
"It wasn't fake," Joanne said. "He would truly mean it [in the moment.]"
He would take time to read aloud to his aunt who was blind.
But it's the stories of her son sticking up for kids being bullied in school that his mother said ultimately led to his calling - helping others.
He always said he wanted to work with the homeless.
"He hated to see people mistreated," she said.
When Clinton died he was working for the non-profit Bronx Freedom Fund as a client advocate helping people who had been in trouble get back on their feet.
"He was a great person who would compliment people," she said. It was also a known fact that if someone made him something to eat he would tell them it was the best thing he ever had.
"It wasn't fake," Joanne said. "He would truly mean it [in the moment.]"
He would take time to read aloud to his aunt who was blind.
But it's the stories of her son sticking up for kids being bullied in school that his mother said ultimately led to his calling - helping others.
He always said he wanted to work with the homeless.
"He hated to see people mistreated," she said.
When Clinton died he was working for the non-profit Bronx Freedom Fund as a client advocate helping people who had been in trouble get back on their feet.
"He always had a way of protecting the underdog," Joanne recalled. "He had a heart for the downtrodden."
He and his family lived modestly in the Bronx, but would often open up their home to those in need giving them a place to stay while they figured out their own living arrangements.
"His community was everyone," she said.
A Go Fund Me account was set-up to help his family. ""I’ve been completely blown away by all of your generosity, love, and support. Thank you so much." wrote Clinton's wife Joanlie. In just a little over 24 hours donations from all over totaled over $60,000. "The financial support is really going to help us get on our feet as we embark on this new chapter of life without Clinton."
She also thanked the many friends sharing memories and photos. "The pictures and stories will help our boys to grow up knowing what a special person their father was."
Other tributes poured in from people Clinton helped over the years, as well as old teammates from Franklin. "...once a teammate always a teammate... " former Franklin Knight football teammate Dave Smith wrote on Facebook where he shared some of the photos you see here. "He was an all conference linebacker and an almost unblockable nose guard... he never would swear, he would say fudge or fuss. It would really confuse officials. Anytime I see Number 40 I think of him. As I see all the posts from all the people that he made an impact with, it’s no surprise because the short time we played together and were in school together, he always brought an energy of fun, laughter, and a big heart with him anywhere he went. Always fighting for what he believed in... I can see the fun and life he still brought into the room."
Joanne summed up how her son approached life and how he treated people.
"He would find the best in you, that's what I'll miss the most."
He and his family lived modestly in the Bronx, but would often open up their home to those in need giving them a place to stay while they figured out their own living arrangements.
"His community was everyone," she said.
A Go Fund Me account was set-up to help his family. ""I’ve been completely blown away by all of your generosity, love, and support. Thank you so much." wrote Clinton's wife Joanlie. In just a little over 24 hours donations from all over totaled over $60,000. "The financial support is really going to help us get on our feet as we embark on this new chapter of life without Clinton."
She also thanked the many friends sharing memories and photos. "The pictures and stories will help our boys to grow up knowing what a special person their father was."
Other tributes poured in from people Clinton helped over the years, as well as old teammates from Franklin. "...once a teammate always a teammate... " former Franklin Knight football teammate Dave Smith wrote on Facebook where he shared some of the photos you see here. "He was an all conference linebacker and an almost unblockable nose guard... he never would swear, he would say fudge or fuss. It would really confuse officials. Anytime I see Number 40 I think of him. As I see all the posts from all the people that he made an impact with, it’s no surprise because the short time we played together and were in school together, he always brought an energy of fun, laughter, and a big heart with him anywhere he went. Always fighting for what he believed in... I can see the fun and life he still brought into the room."
Joanne summed up how her son approached life and how he treated people.
"He would find the best in you, that's what I'll miss the most."
His friend Alan Matthew Miller compiled this video below with a lot of photographs and clips of Clinton.
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