He was a gentle giant. Six foot eight and a smile that could light up a room, with a presence that let you know that he was in charge. He was an educator and an administrator and a friend to everyone he ever met.
And now he’s gone. At 47 years young.
The Albany City School District announced that Tony Clement passed away this morning, succumbing to complications from pancreatic cancer. He served as a teacher and principal at several different schools in the Albany Public system; in addition to his work at Albany High School and at the Adult Learning Center, his last stint was as the Principal at Philip J. Schuyler Achievement Academy.
I met Principal Anthony Clement several times, mostly during his tenure as principal of Harriet Gibbons High School. We coordinated different projects that would benefit the school and its students. At one time, I brought the Albany Patroons to the 75 Watervliet Avenue campus, so that the players could talk to the students – later that evening, Clement and dozens of students attended an Albany Patroons game. It was a fantastic moment. Especially since Tony Clement tried out for the Patroons two decades ago.
Tony Clement was the principal at HGHS when I arranged to get a Revell VEXplorer robotics kit donated to the school; three of Harriet Gibbons High School’s gifted students built the VEXplorer robot and drove it all over the school building! In the end, I got the article, the school got the robotics kit, and everyone came out a winner. Tony didn’t even mind when the students drove the VEXplorer right into his office!
When the school was in its final year of operation, Tony and I worked together to save as many of the school’s historic artifacts – yearbooks, graduation programs, photographs, everything – so that none of the materials would disappear in a dumpster. We found so many things in those “rescue raids,” boxes and crates full of treasure and memory – including the original 1977 documentary about the school, a documentary created out of slides and a cassette tape. Those items are now safely cataloged at the Albany Institute of History and Art, where they’re now available for study and for research.
When I heard the news that Tony Clement contracted pancreatic cancer, I offered to help in any way that I could. That included promoting and taking part in the ‘Roni’s for Tony pasta dinner fundraiser last March.
And this afternoon, I received the news from Lisa Angerame, the Communications Specialist with the Albany City School District. Tony Clement’s battle with pancreatic cancer concluded today.
This hurts. Anthony Clement was a good man, a good teacher and a good administrator. To say that he will be missed is as obvious as saying that grass is green.
Rest in peace, Principal Anthony Clement. Thank you from all your friends, co-workers, parents, students and faculty.
Chuck Miller
Street Academy of Albany / Harriet Gibbons High School, Class of 1981
Chuck The Writer 
I’m glad we got to go t the Roni’s for Toni and will cherish the mugs I won and the necklace as well!
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A good man.
His stature, literally and figuratively, took up the whole room.
And always a gentleman.
Condolences to his family.
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Thank you so much for you wonderful blog about Tony. I knew him as the principal at Harriet Gibbons. A member of SUNY Albany’s Reading Department, I facilitated an after school literacy program at HGHS for three years. Tony made this possible. I always appreciated his efforts and his commitment to the mission in place at the high school. I’m so sorry to learn of his passing. My condolences to his family, his students present and past, and to his colleagues.
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jordan: mr.clements was a nice caring man he had lots of cordially kids for students he had a scenic life with his beloved students i wish he was here now but i will keep my prayers open and loved with him in it he was a wonderful student council model for me and i hope i can be like him when i grow up 1 awesome principal and another good 1 to for the rest of the year love rest in peace always always in my prayers r.i.p mr. clement.
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Miracle: Mr.clement i miss you so much you were the best pricpal ever i remember when you give the class a hat that had a n in the middle you are nice and cool and caring helpful person you are so tall and i miss you R.I.P. Mr.clement best pricpal ever always miss you forever to loving caring cool helpful Clement Miracle from Ms Chenel class
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