Cliff Whitehead of Dedham, formerly of Roslindale, passed away on September 22, 2014. He was 71 years old.
Cliff loved science and nature and spent much of his time researching, practicing, and teaching nutrition. He was an amateur photographer, musician, and a skilled gardener. He was a Science teacher for 32 years, teaching several generations of students at Roslindale High School and then at West Roxbury High School. He also coached wrestling at West Roxbury High, where he impacted the lives of many student athletes over the years.
Cliff grew up in Utah, where his extended family still resides. In 1966, after graduating from Snow College, he entered the Peace Corps and spent two years in Liberia, Africa teaching children and working in a hospital. From there he traveled to England and spent his Peace Corps earnings on a Norton motorcycle that he brought back to the US and rode across country. In the early 70’s he moved to Massachusetts with his first wife Susan, to pursue a Master’s in Teaching degree at Boston College and then began his long career as a teacher in the Boston Public Schools. He had two children from his first marriage – Alison and Geoff, who grew up in Roslindale. Cliff was a founding member of the Mystic River Rugby Club in 1974 and the team’s first captain. Much of his early life was dedicated to the sport and to the Mystic River community.
In 2000, Cliff converted to a life of Christ and became a devoted follower of Jesus. He married Joanne Burns in 2002 and together they spent time researching and learning the teachings of Jesus and becoming better Christians. He was also a dedicated grandfather who loved committing his time and energy to his grandkids. He loved taking them fishing and canoeing on the Charles River and just spending time with them in general.
Cliff was beloved by all who knew him and he will be dearly missed. He was the devoted husband of Joanne Whitehead and loving stepfather to Richard Burns and his wife Heather, and to Charleen Burns. He was the beloved grandfather to Ryan, Jason, Greg, Dylan, and Tristi, Jake and Cameron. He was also the loving father of Alison McAlear and her husband Josh McAlear of Holyoke, Massachusetts, and of Geoff Whitehead of Jackson, Wyoming. He was the loving brother of Janis Thorne and her husband Brent Thorne, and of Craig Whitehead and his wife Cathy Whitehead. He is survived by many loving nieces and nephews.
Clifton's Funeral Service was held at the Kfoury Keefe Funeral Home
Contributions in Clifton’s memory may be made to the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews at www.ifcj.org.
Clifton was laid to rest at Blue Hill Cemetery, Braintree.