New College of Florida Mourns Passing of Dr. Preston Clement

New College of Florida mourns the passing of former New College Foundation Trustee Dr. Preston Clement, who died on February 2nd at the age of 78 after an 18-month battle with bladder cancer. The pediatrician was a long-time Sarasota resident and civic volunteer who worked to break the cycle of child abuse in Sarasota and DeSoto counties. Clement served on the New College Foundation Board from 2002 until 2007, when he resigned due to health reasons.

Clement joined Rotary International in 1962 and was introduced to his wife Debbie Dort, by fellow Rotarian Dallas Dort, one of New College’s founding pioneers and a longtime supporter of the College. Dallas established a program in the early 1990’s for students to attend area cultural events; after his passing, Debbie and Preston continued to support the Dort-Clement Cultural Fund, which provides New College students with the opportunity to attend significant performances of theater, opera, ballet, symphony and other artistic events that dovetail with and complement their academic studies.

A father of four, Clement graduated from Sarasota High in 1946 and later served as its football team’s physician for 25 years. Since 1980, he helped the Child Protection Team treat and protect young victims of physical or sexual abuse. In addition to serving on the New College Foundation Board, Clement also served on the Board of the Sarasota Family YMCA and worked with the Sarasota County Health Department and Children’s Medical Services to help sick children. Clement never fully retired, preferring instead in recent years to fill in for vacationing doctors who were treating children with special medical needs through Children’s Medical Services.

For more information on Preston Clement or the Dort-Clement Cultural Fund, please contact New College Foundation at (941) 487-4800 or visit them online at foundation.ncf.edu.