Joe Louis Clark, whose toughness and dedication to the students at a troubled high school in New Jersey landed him on the cover of TIME magazine and inspired the 1989 movie "Lean on Me," has died at the age of 89, his family said. The former educator and lifelong South Orange resident had retired to Gainesville, Florida, and was at home with family when he died Tuesday after a long battle with illness, his family said in a press release. Clark helped turn around Paterson's Eastside High School, which was riddled with crime and drugs when he took over as principal. Before taking over at the school, Clark taught at grade school in Paterson and served as the Director of Camps and Playgrounds for Essex County. He was soon named principal at the elementary school, and the once-failing school was said to be transformed into the "Miracle of Carroll Street," his family said. "Paterson has lost a legend. Joe Clark spoke strongly and carried a big stick," Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh said. "If anyone needs to see what type of positive influence he had on his students then I suggest they watch, "Lean On Me." 🙏🏿 • #JoeClark #PrincipalJoeClark #Paterson #PatersonEastSide #LeanOnMe #unheardvoicesmag #UVRemembers #rip #restinpeace #NewJersey #legend #education #educator #JoeLouisClark https://www.instagram.com/p/CJZ9j7eFtEF/?igshid=1e53mdos9zw15