Clifford P. "Cliff" Reeves

Clifford P. Reeves, 83, passed away peacefully holding the hand of his beloved wife Jean H. (McCue) Reeves on September 29, 2025. Born on June 14, 1942, Cliff lived a life full of family, travel, family, humor, family, learning, and family. Cliff touched the lives of everyone he met with his warmth, humor, and genuine interest in their lives and experiences.

Cliff grew up in Matawan, New Jersey with his mother, father, and younger brother, Dennis. Cliff and Jean were in the same kindergarten class, although they did not begin dating until they were in the 8th grade. Cliff was a mischievous child, perhaps most famous for climbing to the top of and painting "Beat Keyport" on the water tower ahead of the annual Thanksgiving football game (this story can now be told as the statute of limitations has finally expired).

Upon graduating from Matawan High School in 1960, Cliff attended Monmouth University graduating on June 6, 1964, with a degree in Accounting. Jean also graduated from Monmouth University on June 6, 1964, with a degree in Education. Not content with merely graduating from college, one week later (June 13, 1964) Cliff and Jean married confirming a love that began in the 8th grade (if not kindergarten!) and beginning a life-long partnership. And, not content with graduating from college and getting married, eight days after their wedding, on June 22, 1964, Cliff began his career with Johnson & Johnson's Personal Products Company (Milltown, NJ). In July 1965, Cliff joined another J&J company, Ethicon, Inc., in the Cost Accounting Department.

Cliff and Jean began the most important part of their lives with the birth of Christine in 1965. Two more children, David (1967) and Suzanne (1969), completed the family.

As Jean began her career as Mother and Homemaker, Cliff began his march up the ranks at J&J. In March 1971, he joined J&J International (New Brunswick, NJ) as an Accounting Supervisor and then Accounting Manager in the Export Division. In March 1979, Cliff joined J&J Corporate (New Brunswick, NJ) as Manager, Corporate HQ Personnel.

While residing in New Jersey, the family was active in Brownies, daycare and preschool, 4H, and many programs at Somerville Methodist Church and the South Branch Dutch Reformed Church. Cliff was elected President of the Branchburg School Board and had the honor of handing Christine her 8th Grade Diploma in 1978.

In November 1981, J&J bought Frontier Contact Lens, a 60-person contact lens manufacturing company in Jacksonville, Florida, that would eventually become Johnson & Johnson Vision Products, inventor of the the first disposable contact lens (Acuvue). Recognizing talent, J&J offered Cliff the position of Personnel Director/Vice President Personnel. Recognizing the opportunities, Cliff and Jean accepted the offer and moved the Reeves Family to Jacksonville, Florida.

In May 1992, Cliff and Jean returned to New Jersey when Cliff rejoined J&J Corporate (New Brunswick, NJ) as Vice President, Corporate Staff and Vice President J&J Finance Institute, reporting to the Chief Financial Officer. In March 1996, Cliff joined J&J Interventional Systems (Warren, NJ) as Vice President of Human Resources. Cliff and Jean returned to Florida in January 1997, when J&J bought Cordis Corporation (Miami, FL) to create a combination of the J&J invented vascular stent with the Cordis catheter stent placement systems. Cliff served as Vice President, Human Resources.

Cliff retired in 2002 and he and Jean moved to Vero Beach, Florida. They enjoyed spending summers at their camp on Long Pond in the Belgrade Lakes region of Maine and traveling the world via Ocean and River cruises, including cruises in Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, Alaska, New Zealand, and Australia. Cliff's hobbies included woodworking, sailing, and golf while Jean continues to enjoy quilting, counted cross stitch and other needle crafts, and cooking and baking.

Cliff and Jean moved from Vero Beach to Nocatee, Florida in 2021, to be closer to the majority of their nine grandchildren and one (now two!) great grandchildren. They moved into Vicar's Landing in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL in April 2024.

Cliff was a life-long learner, a voracious reader, and a student of history. He loved Jean and his family, working hard to create opportunities and spaces for his children and grandchildren to grow and thrive. A Christian, Cliff was (and is) a stellar example of the power of love, kindness, generosity, hard work, and learning. He was a great man because, at his core, he was a truly good man.

Cliff is survived by the love of his life, Jean; his children, Christine (Andrew), David (Susan), and Suzanne (Wade); his grandchildren, Brandon, Parker, Will (Savannah), Alison (Christopher), Jacob, Ryan, Emily, Turner, and Hannah; and his great-grandchildren, Dawson and Bennett.

The family will hold a Celebration of Life at a date and location to be determined.