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Bernard Shir-Cliff Obituary
Bernard Wilson Shir-Cliff, Jr., 92, passed away peacefully February 28, 2017 at his home in Central Point, Oregon. He was born on November 7th, 1924 in Troy, New York.
Bernard attended Mountain Lakes High School in New Jersey. He served in the 11th Airborne Division as a paratrooper in the Pacific during WW II, and graduated from Columbia University with a degree in journalism. He began his career as editor for Ballantine Books in the '50s & '60s, and went on to become editor-in-chief for Warner Books, Pocket Books, and Contemporary Books in New York. He also translated screenplays for publication and later became a well-known literary agent.
He met the love of his life, Sarah Brion, in Paris, and they were married in 1955. Books were his life-long passion, and reading was his recreation as well as his profession. He loved his life and enjoyed every moment, and never lost his sharp wit and generous sense of humor. He will be greatly missed as a loving husband, beloved uncle, and valued friend.
Bernard is survived by his wife Sarah; his niece, Mary Graham of Wilton, NH; great-nieces, Gillian and Fiona; and niece, Frances Rauscher of Wales, WI. He was preceded in death by his sister Justine Shir-Cliff Rauscher.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date. In leiu of flowers, please support your local independent bookstore.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Bernard Shir-Cliff
3 Entries
Ann Thompson-Fabricant
June 21, 2017
Bernard Shir-Cliff was an editor in the tradition of Maxwell Perkins. A lover of literature and the creative use of language, he was never the hustler or salesman. Bernie cherished writers, coddled them, tolerated their tantrums and edited them brilliantly. Any writer who had the good fortune to be edited or represented by him as an agent came away a better writer. Intuitively, he could fix any problem with the manuscript. I found that, in the end, he was right about changes he suggested. To me, he represented the very best in that fabled profession, publishing.
March 11, 2017
Gone and will not be forgotten, God's comfort and blessings as your dear one R.I.P Very soon our God will erase the effects of sin and death, making eternal life in paradise possible. John :3:16
March 8, 2017
Grief can be so hard, but our special memories help us cope. Remembering you and your loved one today and always.
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