March 22 in A.A. History

In 1951, Dr. William Silkworth, 77, died at his home, 45 W. 81st St., New York City, from coronary occlusion, a condition characterized by the partial or complete blockage of blood flow in an artery that supplies blood to the heart. In their later years, he and his wife, Marie [right, together in front of their home in New Jersey], had left New Jersey to live in Manhattan.

In 1984, Clarence S. [left], 81, died at home in Casselberry, Florida, from lung cancer. He was 46 years sober. Clarence was the founder of Cleveland A.A., the creator of the sponsorship concept as we know it today, and the author of “Home Brewmeister” in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd editions of the Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous.