As a child, Michael Clarke was a fierce competitor.

An all-star for his soccer team at Archbishop Curley High School, Clarke later spun his passion for sport into a means of creating community in Canton, where his Claddagh Pub became a beloved neighborhood fixture for nearly three decades. Crowds flocked in front of Clarke’s numerous TVs, sucking down pints of beer, in some cases as early as 6 a.m. to watch the latest European matchups or Olympic-level nail-biters. His sister, Lori Pirisino, said it was a “family affair.”

But on July 28 the longtime restaurant owner died of a heart attack at his Ocean City vacation home, nearly two weeks after his birthday. He was 58. Clarke leaves behind a wife, Kimberly Clarke, and three children.

“He built it from scratch,” Pirisino said of the pub. “It’s a well-oiled machine, and he worked so hard to get it here.”

Life without him at Claddagh’s will be an adjustment, she said. The family is in shock. Pirisino will be helping her mother, Vivian Clarke, who partnered with her son in running Claddagh, as the business resumes its usual schedule. It’s a difficult task considering the lives of the pub and her brother are so closely interwoven.

In 1994, Clarke purchased a dive bar, formerly known as Eddie’s Lounge in O’Donnell Square, and flipped the spot into a bare-bones rendition of Claddagh Pub. It’s now a five-story building with four bars and several dining rooms.

He was inspired by the business built by his father, the late Dennis Clarke, who had operated an Irish pub on Chase and Howard streets with Clarke’s grandfather. Michael Clarke grew up in his father’s business, working as a food runner as young as 8 years old.

His mother remembers him at that age as an entertainer, a ball of energy who knew how to make others crack a smile. He was always a jokester to Pirisino, who said her brother had a way of making people feel seen.

Twenty years later, Clarke brought his showmanship to Claddagh, hosting community gatherings to watch his beloved team, A.C Milan, dominate the European Champions League. With every victory came a perfectly timed musical interlude. Often Dean Martin’s “Volare” blared over the bar’s speakers, Pirisino said, as a tribute to their Italian heritage.

He would save special seats, known as the “skybox,” for Pirisino and the family. “You definitely got a show,” she said of watching games alongside her brother. “When he teased you, you knew he loved you.”

Clarke was proud to be a leader within the Canton business community, she said. He was meticulous in keeping Claddagh clean and serving only food he loved. For decades he treated 2918 O’Donnell St. like his home — investing a lifetime of work and family sacrifices.

In recent weeks, Clarke hosted viewing parties to watch U.S. teams compete at the Paris Olympics. As usual, each athlete’s triumph came with an anthem, curated by Clarke. “Born in the U.S.A.” by Bruce Springsteen became a fast favorite.

Pirisino said she still plans on blasting the Springsteen anthem, even without “the Boss” of the pub by her side.

“We’re just trying to put back the pieces,” she said last week while fielding questions from employees. “We’re going to keep this running for him.”