Harold Bernard "Bernie" Cleff

Bernie Cleff, one of Philadelphia's most renowned freelance commercial photographers, passed away peacefully of natural causes on August 21, 2025, at the age of 98.

Born in Philadelphia, PA, Bernie was the son of Louis and Rae (German) Cleff. After graduating from West Philadelphia High, he served in the U.S. Navy and then returned to Philadelphia, where he graduated from the Philadelphia College of Art.

In 1955, Bernie married the love of his life, Evelyn (Kaplan) Cleff, who preceded him in death in 2015 after 60 years of marriage.

Bernie dedicated his life to the art of photography, building a distinguished career that spanned over 53 years. He was one of the founding members of the Philadelphia chapter of ASMP (American Society of Media Photographers). Specializing in aerial, editorial, corporate, advertising, and architectural photography, his work appeared in prestigious publications including Fortune, Business Week, Forbes, Venture, Sports Illustrated, The New York Times Sunday Magazine, and Smithsonian, among many others.

Bernie's photographic legacy includes documentation of Philadelphia's architectural treasures and sculpture collections, work that has been published in several books, including "The Cape May Handbook" and "Historic Rittenhouse: A Philadelphia Neighborhood." His photographs of Philadelphia's sculpture were featured in "Sculpture of a City: Philadelphia's Treasures in Bronze and Stone." His photographs of sculptor Daniel Chester French's work are permanently housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Upon retirement, he enjoyed sculpting at The Clay Studio and was a volunteer at the Pennsylvania Hospital Emergency Department. He also served as a "Standardized Patient" at Thomas Jefferson University School of Medicine, helping medical students learn diagnostic techniques. In his later years, Bernie found companionship with Adele Greenspun, enjoying many worldwide traveling adventures.

Bernie will be remembered by his family and friends as "Mr. Fixit" - the man who could repair anything. He was reliable and ate everything on his plate (there wasn't any food he didn't like). He invariably had a dad joke handy, a mischievous grin for the camera, and cheerfully made pancakes on Sunday mornings in whatever shape his children requested. He made friends wherever he went; his warmth, humor, and zest for life touched everyone who knew him.

Bernie is survived by his children, Peter Cleff (Nancy), Andrew Cleff, and Rebecca (Cleff) Selvin (David); grandchildren Daniel Cleff, Isabel Sheff (Austin), Sophie Cleff, and Elliot Selvin; and several nieces and nephews. Bernie was predeceased by his sister Betty (Cleff) Berman.

The family would like to thank those who helped to care for Bernie so lovingly over his final years: the Atria staff in Philadelphia, the teams at Artman Personal Care and Skilled Nursing in Ambler, the compassionate folks at Ascend Hospice, and most especially Petra Williams, who always made him smile.

A celebration of Bernie's life will be held this fall.