Clarence E. Downs III, a longtime employee at the Baltimore Department of Recreation and Parks who was responsible for the care and maintenance of the city's trees, died Christmas night in a fire that destroyed his home in Lansdowne. He was 48.
Known as Buddy to his family and co-workers in the forestry division of the Bureau of Parks, Mr. Downs went to work for the city when he was 18 years old. He rose through the ranks and became the third-in-command of the forestry division. He supervised a staff of approximately 40 employees and was responsible for the care of the city's 399,000 trees.
"He loved his work with the bureau and loved horticulture," said his wife of 20 years, the former Cindy Jean. "He started making money by selling flowers from a stand on Roland Avenue near Hampden when he was 13."
A native of Baltimore, Mr. Downs grew up in Hampden, lived for many years in Morrell Park and about three years ago moved with his family to Lansdowne, where he and his wife were renovating a Victorian house, she said. The house and the family's belongings were destroyed in the fire.
He attended night school at Northern High and received his GED in 1973. He later took classes in horticulture at Appalachian University in North Carolina.
"Buddy made people feel great with his kind words, his smile and his wonderful sense of humor," said Kimberley Amprey, acting director of the Department of Recreation and Parks. "His 30 years of service in the department's forestry division, his hard work and commitment to excellence earned him several promotions.
"Buddy was third-in-command in the department's forestry division -- an awesome responsibility in which he managed the work of crews planting, pruning and removing trees in Baltimore City. He was a wonderful person, and he will be sorely missed."
John Burch, the acting city arborist, said Mr. Downs had just returned to work Monday from an extended leave.
"He was glad to be back to work," Mr. Burch said. "He had a lot of friends here. He was always upbeat and in a good mood, joking and laughing with the guys."
Mrs. Downs described her husband as an honest, hard-working man who had a vast storehouse of general knowledge. His hobbies included sketching, painting and woodworking.
"He also loved to fish," she said. "We bought our first boat last year so that he could go fishing. He loved everything about nature."
He was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Linthicum.
A memorial service will be held at 6 p.m. Monday at Ambrose Funeral Home, 2719 Hammonds Ferry Road, Lansdowne.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Belinda Dryden of Owings Mills and Caitlin Downs of Baltimore; six sons, Clarence E. Downs IV of Baltimore; Alan Creveling of Bowie; Sam Creveling of Bowie; and Ryan Downs, Christopher Downs and Matthew Downs, all of Baltimore; and three sisters, Dorothy Downs, Mary Downs, and Grace Bopft, all of Baltimore.