Clifford Douglas Feldwick

Clifford Douglas Feldwick, known to all as "Cliff," died peacefully after a long journey with cancer on January 20, 2024 in Columbia, Maryland. Cliff was born in England on July 6, 1948 and immigrated to Baltimore, Maryland with his older brother, Ray, and parents, Douglas and Elizabeth, as an infant. A graduate of Baltimore Polytechnic Institute in 1965, Cliff went on to study Mechanical Engineering at the University of Maryland. Like his father before him, Cliff brought his engineering skills to bear in solving all kinds of practical problems, even teaching us how to repair the footplate on his vintage barber chair just days before his passing.

Cliff married Shirley Fink on January 24th, 1970 and within that momentous week he graduated from college, got married, started his first job, and bought a house. Most people would be daunted by so many major life events all at once, but for Cliff this way of living was normal. If there was joy to be had, he wanted to experience all of it. If there was something that needed to be done, he did it. If there were difficulties to be faced, he accepted them with courage.

Cliff and Shirley raised their children, Chris and Jen, in the neighborhood community at Riverside Circle, surrounded by friends and nature. Cliff could often be found fixing the car - always a Chevy, never a Ford - in the driveway or working on the house. In his work life, Cliff was exposed to the first generation of Apple computers, and quickly became the resident expert in this new technology. He founded Riverside Computing and enjoyed owning his own business.

After his divorce, Cliff went on a life-changing and life-affirming trip out west, visiting the Grand Canyon and the desert of Arizona. There, he began to imagine what might be possible, and came home ready to dive even more deeply into friendships, service to the community, and living his life to the fullest. He loved live music, attending innumerable concerts at local venues. He loved parties, and his go to potluck items were stinky cheese and red wine. He loved his Rotary Club and their service activities, and he looked forward to Friday morning meetings and the "meeting after the meeting" for coffee and conversation. One of his life highlights was traveling to Ethiopia with the Rotary to administer polio vaccines. Even after his retirement, Cliff continued to serve on the Business Women's Network Scholarship committee. He loved art, and was a proud member of the American Visionary Art Museum of Baltimore, where he volunteered for their annual Kinetic Sculpture Race directing traffic in a chicken costume. Support from his church and the friends he made there buoyed him up and brought him joy and he rarely missed a Sunday service or Flying Solo gathering.

Cliff was a devoted father and grandfather, supporting his children in their joys and challenges. Steadfast, loving, and loyal, he provided a firm foundation for them to grow throughout their lives. He shared a special bond with his grandchildren and he delighted in joining them in the activities that mattered most to them. He read stories and went on walks with William, cheered at dance competitions for Madeline, talked movies and history with Henry, and was an avid watcher of Kate's ice hockey games. He loved watching his children shine as parents themselves, and relished family dinners right up to the end. His survivors include: children Christopher Feldwick (Stephanie) and Jennifer Crow (Loretta); grandchildren Madeline and William, and Henry and Kate; and brother Ray (Alison) Feldwick.

Cliff lived life to the fullest. He showed up for his friends and family with compassion and humor. He served his community and often reminded us, "Don't delay joy." He delighted in the fact that he far exceeded his prognosis, celebrating his 75th birthday this summer with the theme, "Not Dead Yet."

We'll celebrate a life well-lived on February 19th, at 2pm at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia, MD. To access the livestream, please use this link: https://uuma.zoom.us/j/349682603

In lieu of flowers, donations in Cliff's memory can be sent to Gilchrist Hospice Center Howard County, Rotary Club of Columbia/Patuxent, and the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia, MD.

https://columbiarotary.com/

https://uucolumbia.net/

https://gilchristcares.org/