June 22, 1955 – March 27, 2021
Scott Frederick Clemons of West Bloomfield passed away on March 27, 2021 at the age 65. Scott crossed over peacefully in the great care of Angela Hospice Care Center in Livonia, with the love of his family surrounding him.
He joined Freeman’s executive sales group as national sales manager, exposition services in 2007 after a 26-year career with Donald E. McNabb Company in Michigan in a variety of management and sales positions including business development, account management, sales and marketing experience in the auto show, tradeshow and special event flooring industry. At McNabb, Clemons oversaw and managed many of the company’s largest client partnerships, and was well-known and respected in the auto show marketplace. He began his career with Sony of America as a marketing representative, later working for Bell and Howell Video Division as account director before he began his long career with McNabb.
Scott was born to Martha and William Clemons in Detroit, brother to David (Cindi), Mark (Karen) and Douglas (Jen). Scott proudly attended Bloomfield Lahser High School, graduating in 1973. It was at Michigan State University that he built lifelong friendships in Delta Chi fraternity and met his former wife of 41 years, Karen (McNabb). He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from MSU in Telecommunications.
Scott and Karen married in 1978 and raised their three children, Kathryn (Jon) Parenteau, Laura (KiAundre) Garland, and Stephen (Alison), in Bloomfield Hills. They spent their summers at Forest Lake Country Club, where Scott and Karen played golf, and the family enjoyed years of SICSA swim meets, time together and made wonderful friends. Scott and Karen were active members at St. Hugo of the Hills Catholic Church; where Scott was often a reader and commentator at Mass.
Scott was passionate about his work in sales, working in the niche event services space, providing custom flooring for auto shows, conventions, concert tours and more. He traveled the country and the world for his work, making friends everywhere he went. He loved travel and especially enjoyed family vacations to historic places near and far with Karen and their children.
Scott was a super fan of the Michigan State Spartans, Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings. For years, he carried a piece of confetti from the 1997 Stanley Cup Championship win in his wallet. He was a scholar of classic rock, enjoying his early career as a disc jockey, and he was an American trivia whiz. He loved the city of Detroit, its people, its music, its spirit, its cars and its grit.
In the final years of his life, he relished the role of “Poppy” to his grandchildren; Caroline Cole (10), John Patrick (8), daughter and son of Kathryn and Jon, and Ada James (3), daughter of Laura and KiAundre.
Scott is survived by countless friends, loving relatives and colleagues who will remember him for his charisma, warmth, passion and storytelling. He had a unique ability to make each person he encountered feel special, important and worthy. He was an energetic mentor, good buddy and constant cheerleader to so many, yet fully known by few. He leaves a great legacy of serving others in their time of need. He will be greatly missed and fondly remembered.
On his online tribute wall, colleague Jennifer Eades wrote, “Scott and I met when I began working for him at McNabb in 1995. He quickly became my mentor, guiding me through the labyrinth of the auto show/tradeshow/special event industry. I had the privilege of working with him daily, listening to all of his MSU tales, his golfing adventures and stories about his children as they grew. He and I shared a very similar taste in music, including Steely Dan. He’d crank his stereo for me to hear the music, annoying everyone else in the office…he was the best. I was fortunate to have spoken to him in September, giving me the opportunity to thank him for everything he’d ever done for me over the years. I’ll miss running into him on the show floor, having lunch once every blue moon but most of all, his energy and spirit. Thank you for everything sir, may you rest in peace.”
Another colleague, Michael Breeding, wrote, “Scott was a great guy! About seven years ago he called me to bail him out of a job where someone didn’t show up. I remember it like it was yesterday. My son and I were putting my ceramic tile in my bathroom…I got the call from Scott. He asked me if I would please come and bail him out. They were shooting a commercial for GM and there was a glare on the ramp so they wanted carpet installed on it to get rid of the glare. It was 1:30 on a Saturday…so my son and I cleaned up our tools and went to Detroit the bail him out (he sounded desperate) got there meet him for the first time. A true gentleman and very friendly. I’m so glad I did that for him. He got me into traveling the country after that doing international car shows and events around the Detroit area…since then we became close. He took the crew and I golfing last year and had a blast. I’ve done a lot of stuff for him around here. If he called I’d always make his jobs fit in my schedule to make him happy…even when I’m slammed in work. He’s one of those guys that was just great to be around. I lost my son that went down and help me the first time I meet him…I hope there in heaven talking about the fun we had on the jobs…RIP Scott truly one of a kind guy…much loved by many people…the best in the business. He could make things happen that no one else could.”
A college buddy, Scott Westerman, wrote, “When I first met Scott, we were both radio guys at Michigan State. We knew instantly that he was going to be a star. He had the charisma of a sales superstar and an encyclopedic knowledge of music and sports that we regularly tapped when we needed that trivia answer or were debating a Jeopardy question. What set Scott apart was the positive attitude he brought to every adventure and the unfailing kindness he displayed to everyone who crossed his path. Scott lived the maxim that, “strangers are simply friends we haven’t met yet.” You could go years without seeing him and pick up right where you left off. It is said that we have many acquaintances during our journey, but few true friends. Scott was one of those rare people that many of us included in that special inner circle. We celebrate his freedom from a body that could no longer contain his spirit and take comfort in knowing that the many lives who are better for having known him earned Scott a slice of immortality that will ripple across the generations. Godspeed, old buddy. Thanks for the memories.”
The Clemons family is planning a celebration of life this summer. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Angela Hospice in Livonia or the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center; the institutions that provided such exceptional care for Scott in his three-year battle with biliary cancer. The family would like to thank the nurses, aides, surgeons, physicians and social workers that supported Scott: we are forever grateful for your hard work, compassion, time and talent. Scott crossed over peacefully in the great care of Angela Hospice Care Center in Livonia, with the love of his family surrounding him.
To share a memory or leave condolences, visit www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/20552286/Scott-Frederick-Clemons/wall
