James Clifton Madden

Cliff was a happy, engaging, and active person who enjoyed nothing more than making those around him smile. Often described as a “character”, he had a fun-loving personality and a big heart; he cherished his family and loved his friends. Cliff was smart, funny, confident, passionate, and loyal. He befriended and inspired so many. Throughout his life, he cultivated long and close friendships with his teammates and classmates.

Cliff grew up in Devon and attended Conestoga High School. He excelled in the classroom and on the lacrosse field. He was named a Distinguished Scholar and a US Lacrosse Academic All-American. Conestoga Lacrosse also honored Cliff with the Herzlich Award, which honors the player who best represents the program on the field and in the community. He coached young lacrosse players, taking great pride in teaching them the game and helping them develop by displaying his love for and knowledge of the sport.

Following high school, Cliff attended The Schreyer Honors college at Penn State and was awarded the Torabi-Dussinger Scholarship by the Smeal College of Business as well as the Academic Excellence Scholarship. Cliff was accepted to work at the Nittany Lion Fund, a student-run hedge fund, where he rose to Director of Equity Research before accepting an investment banking internship in New York.

At Penn State, Cliff maintained an active social life as a popular member and officer of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity. Cliff’s favorite activity was spending time with his close group of friends. Whether they were from Conestoga or Penn State, he appreciated and loved them, often taking on the role of entertainer.

Cliff was struck by an unexplained and undiagnosed illness in 2019. Over the past two years, he and his family were on a medical odyssey, but no doctor could provide a diagnosis or a treatment. Never wanting to be a victim or ask for special treatment, Cliff could still be Cliff for short periods of time, but the disease was relentless and overcame him.

Although Cliff is no longer with us, he will be remembered as the bright, energetic, and clever young man who touched so many people and made them better.

Relatives and friends are invited to a "Celebration of Life" service on December 18th at 11 AM at the Wayne Presbyterian Church, 125 E. Lancaster Ave, Wayne, PA, followed by a reception at the St. David's Country Club.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Cliff’s memory to The National Organization of Rare Disorders and the The Undiagnosed Disease Network Foundation.