Wayne County Wanderings: Honesdale remembers beloved teacher, administrator and coach Jim Clift
Wayne County in general and Honesdale in particular suffered a heartbreaking loss this week with the passing of James Clift.
Jimmy was beloved by many, having spent nearly all his adult life shaping the lives of thousands ... as a teacher, coach and administrator at both Honesdale and Western Wayne.
And as amazing as Jimmy’s professional resume may be, it pales in comparison to his genuine goodness as a person. His laugh was contagious, his smile infectious and his ability to tell the best story at the perfect moment absolutely uncanny.
Whether in the classroom or on the golf course, at church or in quiet conversation, Jimmy never failed to connect. He was a great Dad, a proud Grandpa, loyal friend and passionate advocate of education.
Sadly, Jimmy died last Thursday at Wayne Memorial. He and his wife, Maureen, were married for 54 years.
I hope this column will bring some small measure of comfort to the Clift Family. Jim may be gone, but his spirit lives on in our minds and in our hearts.
Captain's Log...
James Clift was born December 15, 1944. He was the son of Millard and Ida Clift, Carbondale.
He graduated from St. Rose High School, then went on to earn degrees in Education from the University of Scranton and Lehigh.
Jimmy arrived at Wayne Highlands in 1967 as a history teacher. His career as an administrator began in 1972 as principal at the Damascus School. From there he became principal at the Middle School, where he remained for nearly 20 years.
It was during his legendary tenure there that Mr. Clift and I first crossed paths. Because my Mom and Dad were both teachers, I remember him from a very young age. However, it was in fifth grade that I visited his office for the first time.
It was January of 1976 and school was back in session after the holiday break. As dictated by tradition (and by Mom) I wore the new clothes I’d gotten as Christmas presents. Happily for me, that year’s outfit featured a realistic Star Trek uniform top.
Even at that tender age, I was already a huge fan of the original series. James Tiberius Kirk was my hero. I watched Star Trek re-runs over and over. I memorized all his lines and read every fan magazine I could get my hands on. I was hooked.
And the moment I pulled that shirt over my head … I became Captain Kirk of the USS Enterprise. I stood taller. My jawline strengthened. I felt confidence surge through my veins and I strutted about with the swagger of a starship captain.
The first day back at school, a couple of teachers complimented my shirt. For the most part, though, I pretty much just blended in with all the other kids in their Christmas clothes.
However, I have to admit that there was a sense of disappointment when dressing for school on Day Two. Oh sure, the flannel shirt was nice, but I didn’t feel remotely like Captain Kirk while wearing it.
And so, I made a command decision. I donned the flannel shirt and surreptitiously slid the Star Trek uniform into my book bag. The minute I got to my locker at school, I headed to the boys bathroom to change.
Kevin Edwards may have walked in there, but it was James T. Kirk who strode out … and it wasn’t the middle school anymore, it was the corridors of the Enterprise.
My plan worked like a charm. For 11 straight days I loved “education” more than I ever had. My poor deluded friends continued believing they were in school … but, I knew better. We were aboard the Enterprise, sailing through interstellar space at warp speed looking for Klingons and Romulans!
Sadly, it all came to an end on that fateful 11th day when I was summoned from the bridge to … well, to the office. Mr. Clift was waiting for me.
“Captain Kirk!” he said with a big smile as I walked in. There was a neatly folded flannel shirt sitting on his desk. “Come in. We need to to talk about your next mission.”
Family and Friends
Greg Frigoletto and Jim Clift have many things in common when it comes to education, athletics and family.
Frigoletto is the current Wayne Highlands superintendent. A standout wrestler during his high school career, Greg returned to his alma mater after college as a teacher and administrator. He’s also Jim’s son-in-law having married his daughter Heather.
Over the years, Greg and Jim grew ever closer thanks to their overlapping lives, shared interests and family ties. While Jim’s passing wasn’t entirely unexpected, it still hit Greg hard.
“Jim was the best,” he said. “Jim was not only a second father to me, he was also a friend and mentor. I learned so much from him about so many things … like the importance of keeping perspective and of building meaningful relationships.
“Jim treated everyone with dignity and respect, without exception. He was just a genuinely good person.”
Tim Morgan is Assistant Superintendent at Wayne Highlands. He’s also close friends with both the Frigoletto and Clift families.
Jim’s death also affected Tim deeply. When I reached out, the first thing he said was that the last few days had been a near-constant stream of memories and stories.
It didn’t take long for Tim to notice a couple of themes running through just about every conversation.
“First, Jim was a kind soul who went out of his way to extend himself to others,” Tim said. “He was a true gentleman and a great mentor to many. When speaking with Jim, he didn’t just listen, he heard you, offering what seemed to be the right words at the right time.
“Secondly, there may never be another storyteller like Mr. Clift. He was always at the ready with a great story that would typically bring the house down in laughter.
“I can hear his laugh, see his grin and watch his expression, and it makes me smile. There is no doubt, when Mr. Clift was in the mix, there was happiness and laughter.”
Founding Father
Several years ago, I did a deep dive into the history of Hornet wrestling.
And, as well as I thought I knew the origin story, I was genuinely surprised to discover that Jim Clift was the very first head coach at Honesdale.
Jim and I chatted at length about this during the run-up to a ceremony honoring the very first varsity squad. Not surprisingly, he spent most of our conversation downplaying his role in the First 50.
“I really didn’t know as much about wrestling as say George Stanton did,” Jim said. “They asked me to coach and I said yes. I’m glad I did because it was so much fun. We did pretty well too. Boy, I can’t believe it’s been 50 years. It seems like yesterday.”
It wasn’t long before Jim stepped aside from his coaching duties to pursue other adventures. Rich Chulada took over the program and spent the next three decades molding the program into a powerhouse.
Now retired and living in Florida, Chooch was heartbroken to hear of Jim’s passing.
“When you think of Jimmy Clift, what comes to mind immediately would be his dedication as a teacher, a coach, an administrator,” he said. “Jimmy was dedicated to improving the lives of students in Wayne County.
“When I think of Jimmy, I think of the good friend he was, the comical things he would say and do that would make you laugh. He was such a good friend, with a great heart.
“He was there at the beginning of the wrestling program. And in my 32 years of coaching at Honesdale, he was always one of our biggest supporters. He will be dearly missed.”
When Chooch finally retired and headed south, he handed the reins to his son.
Ryan Chulada immediately brought on Joe Arnone as his top assistant and this dynamic duo wasted no time in taking things to the next level. With Chulada and Arnone calling the shots, Honesdale has consistently been in the hunt for both Lackawanna League and District 2 titles.
Ryan is a dedicated student of the sport. He has a keen understanding of Hornet history and a ton of respect for the groundwork laid by men like Jim Clift.
“He was a great man,” Ryan said. “Jim was one of the old guard here at Honesdale who really helped develop the culture in our school and community that we still enjoy today.
“He and the late Walt Markowski coached the wrestling team before my father took over. The success our program has had is due in large part to the men who laid the foundation and Jim Clift was one of those leaders.”
Never Forgotten
It boggles the mind to think of all the lives Jimmy Clift touched over the course of nearly 78 years on the planet.
It all starts with his family: Maureen, Heather, Greg, Bella and Olivia. While no one is perfect, I think I can say without fear of contradiction that Jimmy Clift always tried his best to be a great husband, father and grandfather.
There were thousands of students from Damascus to Honesdale, Lake Ariel to Waymart. Then there were his countless hours of service with organizations like Wayne Memorial Hospital, Honesdale Golf Club, the Jaycees and Lions Club.
Jimmy always knew how to knuckle down and get the job done. His affable demeanor, ready smile and easy laugh instantly put people at ease. And God was there ever a better storyteller? No one could spin the perfect yarn in any conceivable situation the way Jimmy could. It was a gift.
Which brings me to my last personal anecdote. Most folks probably don’t know this, but Jimmy Clift was my Confirmation Sponsor back in The Day.
Sitting here at the keyboard on this dark winter’s night, I close my eyes and see the image in my mind. Me standing before the altar at St. John’s … knees shaking a bit as the bishop glowers down at me.
But then, I feel a strong but friendly hand on my shoulder. I turn a bit and Jimmy looks down at me with a smile and a wink. Suddenly I’m not nervous anymore. I turn and confidently face the bishop.
Moments later we walk back to the pews. I’m officially confirmed and my name forever changed to Kevin Wayne James Edwards.
In closing, here’s a beautiful thought from Greg as he attempts to guide his family though this difficult time.
“I keep trying to make sense of it,” he said. “The only thing that seems to help is that I keep thinking today the world is a different place … not because Jim is gone, but because he was here. Anyone who knew him or spent time with him is better off for having had that opportunity.”
All of us here at the Tri-County Independent send our heartfelt condolences to the entire Clift Family.
This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Wayne County Wanderings Kevin Edwards Honesdale Jim Clift
