STEWART BURNETT CLIFFORD

CLIFFORD, Stewart Burnett On Saturday, July 29, Stewart Burnett Clifford of Palm Beach, Florida and Duxbury, Massachusetts, loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, at the age of 94. Stewart, "Stew" to all his friends, was born on February 17, 1929, in Boston. He was the son of Dr. Stewart Hilton Clifford and Ellinor Burnett Clifford. He was an alumnus of Noble and Greenough School, Phillips Academy, Andover, Harvard University, and Harvard Business School. Stew was an officer in the U.S. Army serving at Fort Bliss, where he trained soldiers for the Korean conflict. Following his military service, he joined Citibank, and had an exciting 38-year banking career there. During his career, he was the General Manager of the Mercantile Bank of Canada, successfully turning around a bank that was in distress. He also was Head of World Corporation of Citibank in London. Among his favorite responsibilities were as Senior Vice President and Head of the Private Banking and Investment division, and later as Division Executive and Head of the Investment Division. During his distinguished, parallel not-for-profit career, Stew was the Board Chair and a Trustee of The Spence School in New York. He was an Elder, Deacon, and Trustee at The Brick Church in New York City, and was a long-serving Trustee of the Presbyterian Church Foundation. Stew served as President of The Union Club in New York City for six years. With his brother Fred, he was a founding donor of The Duxbury Bay Maritime School. He also served on the boards of the National Institute of Social Sciences, Auburn Seminary, Asphalt Green, Young Women's Christian Association, the Princeton Theological Seminary, and was active at Bethesda by the Sea in Palm Beach. He was a Member Brother of The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem. He was also a member of the Duxbury Yacht Club and the Bath and Tennis Club in Palm Beach. Stew was an avid tennis player, playing well into his 90's; he earned the nickname "The Shark" on the tennis court from those frustrated players across the net. Stew also loved skiing, playing squash, and sailing on Duxbury Bay. Stew cherished spending time with his family, especially at Thanksgiving, his favorite holiday. Each year he would deliver a heartfelt speech during dinner, sharing thoughts about his love of his family and friends, the special meaning of the day, and appreciation for the freedoms we enjoy in this United States. Stew was a keen traveler and was able to visit all seven of the continents. With his beloved wife, who he always said was "the heart of the family," Stew loved to welcome friends, and the children of friends, to New York and Duxbury, often turning their homes into what was dubbed "Hotel Clifford" by many. Dinners for 20 or more were not uncommon. Stew's death was preceded by his wife of 71 years, Cornelia Woolley Clifford, by only a month; his brothers, Paul and Donald Clifford; and his granddaughter, Cornelia Ashley Wareham. He is survived by his four children, Lee Clifford Wareham, Rebecca Mailer-Howat, Jennifer Clifford Danner, and Stewart Clifford, Jr.; his brother, Fred Clifford of Duxbury; as well as six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. There will be a joint Memorial Service for Stew and his beloved wife Nealy at St. John The Evangelist Church in Duxbury, MA on August 26th at 11 A.M. In addition, there will be a Celebration of the Lives of Stew and Nealy in New York City at the Brick Church this fall. The Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, gifts in Stew's memory may be made to acknowledge his great love for the Duxbury Bay Maritime School.

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