Obituary of Terence Clifford

Terence Clifford

Terence was born on September 12, 1916 in Birmingham, England to Enid Armstrong Fisher (of Ireland), and Sydney Ivan Adey Clifford (of New Zealand).  Both of his parents were involved in World War I, Enid as a nurse, and Ivan as a soldier.

Following the war, Terence and Enid spent 5 years in Ireland with her parents.  In 1921 they emigrated to the U.S.  Terry spent most of his youth in, and around, the Bronx, N.Y.  He attended Stuyvesant High School, and later received additional training in a variety of post-secondary technical education settings.  In his early career he worked in a variety of settings, often as a draftsman. Early in the war (WWII) he worked as a marine architect in the shipyards not far from the Lincoln Tunnel.  In 1942 he enlisted in the Army Air Force to utilize skills learned in private pilot training.

For most of his post-war career he worked as a mechanical engineer at Picatinny Arsenal designing and perfecting a wide range of weapons. 

He was involved as a committeman for Scout Troop 118, was as long-time member of the American Legion Post 390, and was a Mason. For a number of years he was lucky enough to reach his dream of owning a small private plane.

He lost his battle with cancer on December 30, 1979.  He leaves his wife, Lee (Lavora); sons Brian (Debora), and Keith (Joanne); and daughter Diane.  He predeceases his mother Enid Garrett, brothers Denis and Robert Garrett, and sister Eileen Garrett.

Interment will be at the Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Rockaway, N.J.