February 28, 1932 – June 18, 2021
Born at home in Queens Village, NY, Clifford Joseph Stueck was brought into the world by Arthur and Florence Keenan Stueck. He was the firstborn of five, followed by his siblings, Arthur, Patricia, George, and Francis.
Cliff was a decorated Korean War veteran, who was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, two Purple Hearts, and the Bronze Star Medal with “V” for Valor, for his significant bravery as a 1st Lieutenant leading a combat platoon for the 25th Infantry Division.
Shortly before leaving for Korea, Cliff met the love of his life, Lois Elaine Hillicke. Lois wrote to the young lieutenant every single day while he was in combat, and it was through those letters that they came to know each other and fall in love. They were married in 1956 and had six children, Eileen (Ken Leech), Clifford (deceased), Kathleen, John (Jill Feinberg), Paul (Peggy Harlow), and Flo (Jen Chotiner), and five grandchildren, Catherine (Nicolas Dovetta), Stephen, Clifford III, John Jr., and Kieran.
Cliff attended Our Lady of Lourdes, Brooklyn Technical High School, St. John’s University, and received an MBA from the University of Connecticut. He spent more than 30 years as a senior executive in information systems with Emery Worldwide, retiring as Senior Vice President, North America. While at Emery, Cliff was an innovator in computer programming, developing a talking computer and one of the earliest package tracking systems, and was famous at the office for promoting women to senior positions.
At home in Easton, Connecticut, Cliff was an avid gardener and arborist. He took an active role in childrearing, advising his children on how to weather life’s inevitable trials and tribulations. He was no stranger to the kitchen, specializing in killer margaritas and nachos, and creating the still famous dinner-for-breakfast meals accompanied by the theme from Star Wars played at top volume. Cliff also enjoyed his role as a political husband when Lois became the first woman elected as First Selectman of Easton. Later they lived in Ridgefield, CT, and Sierra Madre, CA.
Cliff was a world traveler, visiting Hong Kong, Japan, Australia, and other exotic locales. For many years, Lois and Cliff followed their bliss, driving their small RV many times across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, and spending as much time as possible in the U.S. Virgin Islands. His family was his first and abiding love, but Cliff’s life-long passions also included photography, language, and writing, as evident in his soon-to-be-published memoir, Queens Village.
Donations in his memory may be made to Ss. Joachim and Anne School, Queens Village, NY, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, Washington D.C., or the Sierra Madre Public Library. A memorial service and reception will be held at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Pasadena, July 5 at 3:30 PM. A ceremony will be held at the Long Island National Cemetery, Farmingdale, Long Island, NY, July 21 at 11:00 AM.
