Legendary N.J. principal Joe Clark, who inspired ‘Lean on Me,’ dies at 82

By Chris Sheldon | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Joe Louis Clark, the former bat-wielding principal of Paterson’s Eastside High School whose strict disciplinary methods inspired the 1989 film “Lean On Me,” died Tuesday at the age of 82, his family said. Clark, a longtime resident of South Orange, retired to Gainesville, Florida, died surrounded