Anyone who has ever read J.R.R. Tolkien’s trilogy of novels The Lord of the Rings will likely recall a beloved, memorable character, Tom Bombadil.

This magical “Master of Wood, Air and Hills” has never appeared in any of the story’s movie versions. Yet, as one of the more colorful characters created by Tolkien, Bombadil left a lasting impression on those who took the time to read the books.

This magical being’s passion for all that comprises Mother Nature is a favorite of anyone who cherishes the outdoors. And as fortune would have it, there are kindly beings living in our own world who harbor a similar reverence for nature.

Enter Clark van der Lyke of New London, the city’s longtime now retired clerk, who is also a devoted community activist, former security guard, witty new novelist … and a near lifetime steward of Mother Nature’s treasures.

Whether it’s a flock of colorful birds in search of friendly feeders, or squirrels looking to gather nuts, or a small clan of turkeys seeking residence and feed in a welcoming woodland yard, or even the occasional roving fox, or the inevitable feral cats, all find comfort in discovering that Tolkien’s warm spirit of Tom Bombadil does indeed exist in the Land of van der Lyke.

“There was a time when I fished a lot,” van der Lyke explained, referring to his youthful years, “and one day when I went snorkeling with a spear-gun, I came face-to-face with a large blackfish. It was so incredibly curious about me, I just couldn’t do it,” he said, shaking his head as though reliving the incident. “After that it no longer seemed crafty to subdue animals, so I chose to care for them instead.”

A distinguished white-haired elder now, with a smile and a glow in his eye like that of a stock Tolkien character, van der Lyke has long made good on that promise he made to himself.

“I truly want to communicate with animals … and to bridge any gulf that exists between us humans and them. After all, it’s their world too,” he said, then added … “Maybe even more so.”

So who exactly is this man who befriends hawks, owls, snakes, skunks — even mimics the very sounds made by some of them in beckoning them to his yard? Who is this kindly soul who, along with his wife Barbara and daughter Gretchen, share a reverence for all life on earth?

Well, for starters, he served loyally as New London’s city clerk from 1983 to 2001, following 23 years in management at the Hartford Insurance Group. Living in the city of New London all those years, van der Lyke loved his clerk’s position being more an administrative role than a political one. But there were other endearing aspects.

“For one thing, you were always busy, and I enjoyed that immensely,” he said. “New London is in charge of vital records as we are a hospital city. Births take place at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital, so all records of births and deaths are with us.

“And there are times when these records become very intriguing … such as a woman who had been born in Hiroshima (site of the World War II atomic bomb) and had moved here. Working with vital records, you wind up dealing with so many personal aspects of people’s lives, and it gives you the opportunity to interact with them in ways that are very meaningful.”

Van der Lyke looks back on his time as city clerk with fondness and pride.

“I could pick up right where I left off tomorrow if I had to,” he said. “I love New London’s history – it’s sacred in my eyes, and in the eyes of others who revere this city – and we should never lose sight of it. The rich history here should be preserved forever, and we should do everything possible to recapture any aspects of it that have been lost.”

Among his favorite pastimes now is posting old photographs of the city’s history on Facebook.

In the aftermath of his 18 years of service as New London’s city clerk, van der Lyke remained active in municipal affairs as a member of the Democratic Town Committee, while also working part-time as a security guard at the New London State Pier.

Being in a position that assures the safety of area waterways is nothing new to van der Lyke. He once served in the U.S Coast Guard Reserve and ran a fifty-five foot patrol boat along the Hudson River in the vicinity of the George Washington Bridge and around the Statue of Liberty.

His background in the Coast Guard and experiences while working security at the State Pier provoked the elements for a thriller novel, “Port Security,” which is available via Kindle Amazon.com. Noting how a fundamental breach of routine job responsibilities might invoke serious consequences, van der Lyke’s imagination gripped him one night, and out of that emerged plot lines for a compelling short novel with frightening overtones.

“Some people who read ‘Port Security’ even remarked that the story’s possibilities are ‘too real!’” he laughed, nodding in joking agreement.

Van der Lyke has made his little thriller available for a mere dollar for those with Kindle reading devices.

Onetime city administrator, former Coast Guard reservist, budding novelist, humanitarian, and steward of Mother Nature’s finest. Retirement? No way. Clark van der Lyke’s far too busy to retire.