March / April 2007 - Sacramento County Bar Association

OnJuly
20, 2006, Sacramento lost a bright legal
star, though he is no doubt shining down
upon us now, overseeing all that he accomplished in this world.
And “all” for this gentleman, attorney Tommy Clinkenbeard,
is quite a lot, especially considering the talented Public
Defender passed away much too young, at age 51. In the words
of poet Rudyard Kipling, Mr. Clinkenbeard is one of those fortunate
individuals to have filled a minute with sixty seconds'
worth of distance run, and now, we are fortunate to be reaping
the benefits of his accomplishments.
Tommy Clinkenbeard leaves behind a beautiful legacy, and
that statement isn't a superfluous cliché. Yes, Tommy had a busy
and successful legal career, handling many high profile cases at
the Sacramento PD's office, including the defense of Nikolay
Soltys in August of 2001, the troubled young man who killed his
pregnant wife and several family members before talking his own
life in Sacramento County Jail. Yes, it was also Tommy who the
lobbied for jail reform measures in Sacramento, seeking to turn
this tragedy into something constructive.
Yes, Tommy leaves behind a successful family of four children
and many grandchildren, including son, attorney Tom
Clinkenbeard, who now has the tall order of following in his
father's footsteps at the Sacramento Public Defender's Office.
Yes, Tommy was also an active board member of the Death
Penalty Focus, a statewide organization dedicated to the abolition
of capital punishment, one of Tommy's many passionate
causes on behalf of the less privileged. He was also the man you
read about who challenged Sacramento's anti-camping ordinance,
which prohibited homeless individuals from making
Sacramento trails and riverfronts their meager home, lest they
risk prosecution. A dedicated board member of Sacramento's
Loaves & Fishes, Tommy was so valued in his selfless work for
the homeless that in addition to other memorial services, a special
memorial service was held for him last year in Sacramento's
Friendship Park, where lawyers and homeless individuals alike
joined in praising his efforts. And those that gathered didn't just
come to pay their respects to a good man they had heard about:
everyone present wore a purple ribbon in honor of Tommy,
because everyone knew purple was Tommy's favorite color.
Yes, Tommy accomplished all of these things, but he also
leaves behind another tangible accomplishment, one that perhaps
will outlive all of us: the Loaves & Fishes Legal Clinic* (which is
to be re-named the Tommy Clinkenbeard Legal Clinic) he cofounded
with Angie Mendoza in 2002. He was so loyal to this
mission that he willed $10,000 of his own money to ensure the
Clinic will continue to operate and thrive. The legal clinic helps
less fortunate individuals avoid incarceration and fines by contributing
work hours of community service. From June of 2002
through December of 2005, the Clinic is proud to report that it
has helped 8, 927 people contribute 31,663 hours of community
service. For this, we have Tommy to thank.
Thank you, Tommy
In Memoriam
Thank You, Tommy
By Nicole M. De Santis
“If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run
Yours is the Earth and everything that's
in it…”
--Rudyard Kipling
* The Clinic is in the process of expanding and is looking for lawyers who
wish to donate pro bono hours to help further Tommy's cause at the clinic.
If you can donate bus passes, or would just like to serve as someone's
mentor and guide, please contact Angie Mendoza at (916) 446-0368.
* With many thanks to Angie Mendoza of Loaves & Fishes, and the
many articles previously written about Tommy, specifically by Jocelyn
Wiener of the Sacramento Bee and Mark Hedlund of News 10.
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