C. Clifford McLean,
former Ellicotville Superintendent of Schools

Mount Sinai – C. Clifford McLean of Mount Sinai, formerly of Huntington and Ellicottville, died peacefully April 23, 2009 after a gallant effort to beat lung cancer.

Cliff was superintendent of schools for Oyster Bay, Orchard Park and Ellicottville before retirement. He also taught school law and business at St. Bonaventure University. He loved and cherished all children and students. Early in his career, he taught all subjects, including special education and gifted programs and was a coach of basketball and tennis.

Clifford started the first resource room on the high school level in New York state. Throughout his life, he was a spiritual man who was very active in the Episcopal church and was a Eucharistic minister. In the 1970’s he participated in the Episcopal International Convention that changed the new liturgy.

In 1975, New York City Mayor Abraham Beame presented Clifford a key to the city for bringing the New York City All Concert Choir to Western New York to have an exchange of cultures between the city and country.

He was a dedicated and passionate member of Rotary International. As a Rotarian he truly believed in “service above self.” He served as a Group Study Exchange leader to Brazil, was district governor of District 7250 in 1999 to 2000, started RYLA in District 7260 and Rotary Youth Exchange flourished while he was involved in both districts.

Surviving are his wife, Carol; a daughter, Heather; a son, Mark (Susan) McLean; three grandchildren, Eric, Reed and Haylay; and a sister, Josephine (Kenneth) Masters.
A memorial service was held on April 29, 2009 at St. Anselm’s Episcopal Church in Shoreham.