Clifford Allenby

1936 - 2018

Clifford Allenby died on Friday September 21st at home with his family after a long hard battle with melanoma. He was born in Ukiah, California on September 12th, 1936 and grew up in Eureka, California where he met and married his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Sandra Lou Garrison "Sandy." He graduated from Humboldt State University in 1959, and did graduate work at San Jose State, UC Berkeley, and UC Davis. Cliff and Sandy settled in Elk Grove in 1970 where they raised their family. Cliff and Sandy were blessed to have three children, Pam Bailie (Doyle), Craig Allenby, and Susan Asker (Don); and three grandchildren, Rachael, Lesley, and Elizabeth; and a great grandson, Jordan. Cliff has numerous other family members across the United States. Cliff was a high-ranking state gubernatorial appointee across eight California administrations and a community activist for more than 50 years, including service to the Elk Grove Unified School District Governing Board. He served a 23-year tenure with the California Department of Finance, where he rose to the position of deputy director and became the department's top economic and tax advisor. He went on to work for then Governor Jerry Brown in the same post, to which Gov. Deukmejian named him again in 1983. Four years later, Deukmejian shifted Cliff to his Cabinet as Secretary of the Health and Welfare Agency. Cliff took a break from state government in the early 1990s to work for the California Building Industry Association as senior staff vice president for governmental affairs. Late in 1997, Gov. Pete Wilson summoned him back to civic service to head the Department of Developmental Services, which he led for eight years. In succeeding years, Cliff became Gov. Davis's interim director of the Department of General Services and Gov. Schwarzenegger's interim director of the Department of Social Services. In 2007, Cliff stepped down to chair the state's Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board and helped create the Health Insurance Plan of California and Aid to Infants and Mothers. His retirement did not last long and early in 2011, Cliff was named the acting director of the California Department of Mental Health. Cliff was the recipient of many awards, including "Outstanding Public Administrator" from the American Society of Public Administrators and with the Ross Clayton Lifetime Distinguished Public Service Award for a career that spanned half a century. Cliff continued to work as a retired annuitant with the Department of State Hospitals until October 2017. Cliff enjoyed traveling, stocks, reading, dancing with his beautiful wife, and spending time with his family and friends. Cliff was a beloved father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who we will miss dearly. A celebration of life will be held at Valley Hi Country Club on Saturday, September 29th at 5:30 at 9595 Franklin Blvd, Elk Grove. Remembrances can be made to the charity of your choice.