Obituary of Charles Edwin Chuck" Clift

Charles E. Clift, 79, of Millbrook, Alabama died at his home on Thursday, March 30, 2006 after a hard fought battle with cancer. Charles was born September 8, 1926 in Syracuse, New York, the son of Ward L. and Bess E. (Fish) Clift. He was the first Director of the Burnet Park Zoo in Syracuse, New York and the creator and co-owner of Fantastic Animal Land, Tully, New York. He went on to be Assistant Director for the Pittsburgh Zoological Society, Pittsburgh Zoo, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Zoological Director of Warner Bros Jungle Habitat Park System, West Milford, New Jersey, Director of the Santa Ana Zoo, Santa Ana, California and Director of the Montgomery Zoo, Montgomery, Alabama, retiring in 1991. He was on the Board of Directors for the International Society of Zooculturists and was a Professional Fellow of AAZPA. A Navy veteran of WWII, Mr. Clift graduated in 1947 from Morrisville Agricultural and Technical. Institute in Morrisville, New York. He was a 53 year member and Past Master of Konosioni Lodge #950 F&AM in Syracuse, a member of Camillus Chapter #438, Order of the Eastern Star, Camillus, New York, a member of First United Methodist Church, Prattville, Alabama, a member of the Advisory Board for Rainbow Girls, a Father Advisor for DeMolay, and past President of the Prattville Chapter of the Alabama Council for the Blind. Until his death, he was an active member of the North American Trap Collector's Association, contributing many articles to their newsmagazine and was inducted into their Hall of Fame for his significant contributions to the hobby of trap collecting. Mr. Clift is survived by his wife of 59 years, Ruth S. Clift and his daughter, Susan C. Heidtmann of Newport, Kentucky. He was preceded in death by his son, Charles E. Clift Jr., his parents, Ward L. and Bess E. Clift and siblings Ward Richard Clift and Kay Heidenreich. Other survivors include his granddaughters, Melissa Heldtmann of Cincinnati, Ohio, Sara (Spencer) Coers of Avon, Indiana, Jennifer (John) Paganelli of Liverpool, New York; his grandsons, Matthew (Katie) Clift of Syracuse, New York and Mark Clift of Nederland, Colorado, his great-grandsons, Nicholas and Andrew Paganelli of Syracuse, New York; his brothers-in-law, Milton (Lois) Smith of Columbus, Indiana and David Heidenreich of Colton, New York; several nieces and nephews. Visitation will be Monday, April 3, 2006, 4 to 7 p.m. at Ballweg & Lunsford Funeral Home, 4612 S. Salina Street, Syracuse, New York. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, April 4, 2006, 11 a.m. at Ballweg & Lunsford Funeral Home, 4612 S. Salina Street, Syracuse, New York. Burial will follow at Onondaga Valley Cemetery, 2500 Valley Drive, Syracuse, New York. Pallbearers will be Sherman Olin, Matthew Clift, Mark Clift, John Paganelli, Spencer Coers and David Heidenreich. These men were very special people to Mr. Clift. He was loved and admired by many and will be missed by all.