James Clifton "Clee" Edgar

TO VIEW THE RECORDING OF CLEE'S SERVICE, PLEASE CLICK HERE: Life Celebration - James Clifton Edgar 

James Clifton Edgar, or “Clee” as he was affectionately known, passed away on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore MD at the age of 80 following a brief, but courageous battle, with melanoma. He was the husband of the late Suzanne Barber Edgar, with whom he shared 50 years of marriage. Clee will be deeply missed and always remembered by daughter Kde Edgar Mayes, her husband Steve, and beloved grandson, Cooper Mayes. In addition, he is survived by brother-in-law George Barber (Cindy) and niece Abby Barber, brother-in-law Donn Barber Jr., and sister-in-law Heather Barber (Jean).

Clee was a student in the first class at Upland Country Day School beginning in 1948 and attended Upland through elementary school. He graduated from St. Mark’s School in Southborough MA and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. At UNC, Clee was a History major and played on the first Varsity Men’s Lacrosse Team.

After graduation, Clee returned to Upland as the first alumnus to return to campus as a teacher and coach and continued his affiliation with Upland over the next six decades. In 1968, he founded the Boys’ Lacrosse program, the first such program in the entire Brandywine Valley. Along with headmaster Dr. Cleveland, he coached the first scholastic ice hockey teams in the area in the 1960s, and in 1996, became the first coach of the Girls’ Ice Hockey program at Upland. He also coached many Upland alumni for several years with the UHA program.

From 1984 to 1996, Clee served as the Middle School Head at the Tatnall School in Wilmington, DE. While at Tatnall, Clee coached four Delaware State Championship Lacrosse Teams and was named to the Delaware Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2000. The Delaware State Championship Trophy is named the Clee Edgar Cup in honor of Clee’s contribution to the growth of lacrosse in the state of Delaware. Clee was also among the inaugural inductees to the Tatnall Athletics Hall of Fame in 2021.

Clee returned to Upland Country Day School in 1996 as Head of the Upper School. He also taught History and Latin and coached girls’ ice hockey at his alma mater until his retirement. Throughout Clee’s teaching and coaching career, students and athletes across five decades acknowledge the impact that “Mr. Edgar” had on them as students, athletes, and in their future endeavors. Former students and athletes continue to refer to him as the most significant influence in their formative years.

When Clee was not teaching or coaching, he loved the game of golf and played often at Kennett Country Club. He also enjoyed working in the gardens that he and Suzanne had created. However, his favorite activity was spending time with his daughter, Kde, son-in-law, Steve, and grandson Cooper. Clee loved watching Cooper play two of his own favorite sports, golf and ice hockey in Ohio.

You are invited to visit with Clee’s family and friends from 2:00-3:00 PM on Thursday, June 5th, 2025 at the Episcopal Church of the Advent, 401 N. Union St. Kennett Square. Clee’s life celebration memorial service will follow at 3:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, Kde Edgar Mayes requests that contributions be made to the J. Clifton "Clee" Edgar '56 Scholarship Fund at Upland Country Day School https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/39408/donations/new (drop down menu, donors can designate their gift to specific funds and the Clee Edgar Scholarship Fund is among the funds listed) or the Johns Hopkins Cancer Research Fund https://secure.jhu.edu/form/Kimmel (select cancer research).

Arrangements are by Matthew J. Grieco, (Upland Alum) of Grieco Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc. (484-734-8100) of Kennett Square. To view Clee’s online tribute, and to share a memory with his family, please visit www.griecofunerals.com