Clifford James Jefferis

Clifford James Jefferis, wonderful husband, father, grandfather, uncle, musician, businessman, civil leader, and lover of all things, passed away Saturday December 14, 2002. Cliff was born September 28, 1924 in East Gary, Indiana to Cecil James Jefferis and Isa Claire Bullock, and has been a resident of San Antonio since 1971. He is survived by his wife, Adah-Marie Sathe Jefferis, and his daughter, Leslie Marie Jefferis, and her children, Jon Andrew Norman, James Jefferis Norman and Anne Marie Norman; son, Bruce Andrew Jefferis, his wife Marina and their children, Phillip Andrew Jefferis, Allison Marie Jefferis, Paul Clifford Jefferis; his daughter LeeAnn Marie Coburn, husband Russell and their children, Michele Marie Arrieta, Benjamin Jefferis Collins; and his step grandchildren Devan Grey Coburn and Charlotte Alisa Coburn. He is also survived by his sister Coral Claire Wygent, and sisters and brothers-in-law including Genevieve Holisky, Joan and Philip O'Hara, and Doris and Bruce Sathe. He was also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.

Cliff was a remarkably talented man in many ways, but is best known for his music. As a teenager, he sang in the Gary Indiana Municipal Chorus, and with his clarinet he won gold medals in state and national solo clarinetist competitions. In 1943 he enlisted in the Navy and enrolled in the Navy School of Music. He earned a prized assignment as narrator, announcer, and clarinetist for the United States Navy Band in Washington, D.C. He also spent many years singing in church choirs including nearly thirty years with Christ Lutheran Church. In San Antonio, he sang for many years with the San Antonio Choral Society and the Symphony Master Singers. Throughout his life he also loved playing his clarinet and saxophone in many stage bands.

After his Navy service, Cliff began his business career in the banking business in California, but soon moved to Washington, D.C. to begin his career in insurance. He joined GEICO Insurance Company in 1949, rising rapidly to the position of Vice President. In 1970, he was recruited by USAA to run their European headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany. Cliff and the family moved to USAA's home office in San Antonio in 1971. He rose to the position of Senior Vice President, Underwriting, and retired in 1983. Cliff was also a national leader in insurance professional education. He has served as a national director of the Society of CPCU, and as a member of the Board of Ethical Inquiry of the American Institute of Property and Liability Underwriters, among many other professional organizations and responsibilities.

Cliff was also a true civic leader, giving much of his time to many organizations that serve the community. He served as Chairman of the Board for South Texas Regional Blood Bank. He was also Chairman of the San Antonio Chapter of the American Red Cross and Disaster Services Committee. He also served very actively at Christ Lutheran Church, which brought him great happiness. This service included tenure as President of the Congregation. Cliff was most recently active in the San Antonio support group of the American Parkinson's Association. Cliff had an extraordinary range of personal interests, and literally no subject escaped his attention. He was an artist in any medium, most known for his wonderfully eccentric mobiles. He loved virtually all outdoor activities, in particular fishing, biking, jogging, skiing, and camping. His love of all people and all things is what truly distinguished the life of this great man.