Arkport, NY / Hornell, NY
Clifford W. “Cliff” Grover – 93 – formerly of Arkport, and also Rock Fall, Connecticut, died early Tuesday morning (May 21, 2024) at Elderwood at Hornell Nursing Facility where he had resided for the past three years.
Born in Middletown, CT on April 9, 1931, he was the son of Clifford H. and Frances (Ennis) Grover.
Cliff grew up in Rocky Hill, CT and attended Weathersfield High School (Class of 1949). He was a star athlete, excelling on the baseball diamond as a pitcher and actually played in the minor leagues. Cliff enlisting in the United States Navy in 1952. He was honorably discharged on January 21, 1954.
Following his discharge from the US Navy, Cliff returned Rocky Hill and began working at Pratt & Whitney as a Metallurgical Engineer where he spent most of his career. For a short period of time, he was employed at the Electric Boat in New London, CT, but returned to Pratt & Whitney in 1967 where he stayed until he retired in 1993. He resided in the Rocky Hill / Rock Fall area most of his life until relocating to Arkport in 2015.
A true outdoorsman, Cliff (known by close friends & family as “The Big Red Dog”) enjoyed hunting and fishing, especially hunting white tail deer in Connecticut, Vermont, and New York. He also loved gardening and was a lifelong New York Yankees, New York Giants, & UConn basketball fan. In his younger years, Cliff enjoyed playing golf & bowling and had been a member of several bowling leagues.
While living in Connecticut, Cliff was a communicant of St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church in Kensington. More recently, he had been a member of St. Mary’s Church in Canaseraga, NY.
Cliff was married to the former Winifred Antoinette Aubin who died October 22, 2014. He was also preceded in death by his daughter, Lorrie Duke, on March 29, 2017.
Surviving are two daughters, Kim (Chris) Ogorzalek of Arkport; Wendy Darling of Virginia and grandchildren, Cassie Hill, Garrett Cerniglia, Spencer Duke and Sydney Duke; son-in-law, Stan Duke; great-granddaughter, June Hill; along with many nieces, nephews, & cousins.
At Cliff’s request, there will be no calling hours. A Funeral Service with Military Honors will be held on Tuesday (May 28th, 2024) at 7:00 PM at the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY with Father John Cullen officiating. Burial with will be in Rose Hill Memorial Park Cemetery in Rocky Hill, CT on Friday, May 31, 2024 at 12:00 Noon.
In lieu of flowers, Cliff’s family requests that memorial contributions in his name be made to the Hornell Humane Society, 7649 Industrial Park Road, Hornell, NY 14843. Memorial forms will be available at the Dagon Funeral Home.
In recognition of Cliff’s service to his country as a member of the US Navy, the American Flag at the Dagon Funeral Home will be flown at Half-Staff.
To leave an online condolence or share a memory, please visit www.dagonfuneralhome.com or www.facebook.com/dagonfuneralhome.