Clinford ‘Cliff’ Schlueter

Cliff Schlueter passed away peacefully in his sleep at the age of 88 of Alzheimer’s on February 23, 2021.

Cliff was born in January 1933 in Camden, New Jersey, to Clinford Sr. and Roseanna (Whittaker) Schlueter, the oldest of their six children.

After high school, Cliff joined the US Navy, serving in the electronics division aboard the USS Canberra, built in the local Camden Shipyards. So many funny stories shared over the years.

After leaving the Navy, Cliff decided to move west, picking Los Angeles simply because it was in the middle of San Diego and San Francisco.

Upon arriving in LA, Cliff lived at the YMCA and worked at Western Electric. He was the organizer of many lunchtime pick-up basketball games, and being one of the few with a car, was frequently the social director for his fellow Y residents. One such event was a dance in Hollywood for international arrivals, where he met his future wife, Else, who had recently emigrated from Norway.

Else was supposed to be moving to New York with an aunt and uncle the following year, but instead stayed in California, and they were married in January 1959. Else passed away two years ago, on their 60 anniversary. (palipost.com/else-marie-schlueter)

Cliff’s Navy work in electronics set him off on a long and successful career in computers and IT. He worked for many years at System Development Corporation in Santa Monica, and then at Beneficial Standard Life Insurance Company, rising to become chief technology officer.

Cliff was always very athletic and enjoyed bodysurfing, basketball, tennis and softball. But his biggest joy, discovered at the age of 40, was running. An avid 10k and marathon runner, he was an inaugural member of the Palisades Ridge Runners—a local running group in Pacific Palisades, California, where he and Else happily settled and raised their family.

Cliff is survived by his children Linda (John) Cordes of Tucson, Arizona, and Cliff Schlueter of Petaluma, California; his beloved grandchildren Noble, Raven and Castle (Cliff), and Kari and Anna (Linda); his sister and four brothers; and a host of extended family and friends.

Cliff was a very upbeat and positive person—always quick with a pun, a smile and a laugh. Cliff and Else’s ashes will be spread together in the Pacific Ocean this summer—their favorite view on their frequent walks on the beach.