Clifford Williamson

Cli Williamson left this world in the first moments of February 22, which made it of course a

Saturday night. Legend has it that he headed out into the night in a Lego car Jacqui built for

him as atonement for telling him he could no longer drive, something he never quite got over

because clearly she was wrong. Born October 8, 1939 here in Pittsfield, it remained "home"

throughout his life no matter where he found himself.

Cli built things, and fixed them too. As a proud lineman and member of the Communication

Workers of America, he established and maintained miles upon miles of telephone line,

allowing his family, friends and neighbors to stay connected to one another and call for help in

times of need. He learned this skill while enlisted in the US Army, and was proud of having

served his country, helping improve intelligence communications in the harsh conditions of

Alaska. Beyond his work he would always lend a pair of hands and his vast tool collection to a

friend with a project, whether it be a picnic table, a renovation, the Crosby Elementary School

playground, or even building a house on a lake.

Cli also loved. He took such care with the things he built partly because he built them for the

people he loved. He loved his family, including his parents James and Catherine, his sisters

Rosemary, Lillian, and Sharon, and his brothers Charles, James and Robert. He was especially

close with his brother Jim, who was really much more than a brother to him in so many ways.

He'll be glad to finally be reunited with them all. Cli loved his children. He was a girl dad

before it was ever a thing, and passed his silliness and strength down to his children. He will be

missed by Harlan, Jacqui, and Shelley as well as his son-in-law Tony. He and Big Jim are very

likely giggling as we speak, just as it should be. He loved his grandchildren dearly, even

sometimes from afar. When he did spend time with them he would marvel at them, amazed at

what life could do. But his love went beyond his immediate family. He spent many years with

his companion, Barbara Scanlon, who cared for him up until the very end. He also maintained a

close relationship with his ex-wife, Judy Williamson. United by their love for their family, they

remained a source of friendship and support in one another's lives. Cli was a loyal friend and

relative who'd always be glad to see you, buy you a drink, and catch up. He was Uncle Cli to

too many people to count, the adored uncle who would get you in line if for some reason your

parents had been unable to. He remained true to these parts of himself even when his health

had taken a toll on him, making new friends and becoming uncle to the new nieces and

nephews he found at Mt. Greylock ECF, where he was cared for with compassion and dignity in

some of his hardest moments.

Dad, you were one of a kind, and you will be missed.

FUNERAL NOTICE: A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 7, 2026 at 3 p.m. at Dery

Funeral Home, 54 Bradford St, Pittsfield. An hour of visitation will precede the service from 2 to

3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to the BCC Workforce Education

Fund in care of the funeral home. To view full obituary please visit www.DeryFuneralHome.com