Clifford F. Hart

October 26, 2016

Clifford F. Hart, 91, of Syracuse passed away peacefully on Wednesday morning at the VA Medical Center.
Born January 24, 1925 Cliff was the fifth of seven brothers and four sisters. Five of his siblings survive him. He attended Sloan School and Lyncourt Junior High School. During his youth , as  an aspiring boxer, Cliff contended and was a winner of the esteemed Golden Gloves Championship in Madison Square Garden, prior to serving in the US Navy’s South Pacific Fleet during WWII, where he had engaged in fierce combat during the Battle of Leyte Gulf in 1945.
Post-war pursuits in his boxing career led Cliff to World Amateur Championship status before he turned professional, and was dubbed “The Blonde Bomber”. As a husband and father with his first child, Cliff went on in 1949 to contend in a title bout versus Kid Gavilan for the Welterweight Championship.
After retiring from the ring to raise his growing family, Cliff remained active in the local boxing scene, along with others former greats turned trainer like Ray Renaldi, Hugo Bonnacci, Nick Barone, Joey DeJohn, Carmen Basilo and others. After attending Syracuse University, Cliff went to local politics and was elected the Town of Salina Collector of Taxes and later served as Supervisor for two terms in the 70’s. He was an insurance agent with the Mutual Trust Company. He was a member of the Pastime Athletic Club, Kiwanis Club, Knights of Columbus among others. Cliff enjoyed a lifetime of promoting amateur boxing, playing golf, tennis and softball. Well into his older age  he remained happily popular among his beloved expanding family tree. A life long resident of Lyncourt, Cliff was widely known and fondly be remembered. He was predeceased by his first wife Jeannie Stewart, second wife Beverly Hayward and daughter Janice Roach.

Cliff is survived by two sons Clifford (Kip)F. Jr., Ken Hart, a daughter Ann Marie Hart, many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Calling hours are Thursday 4-7 PM with services to follow at Gang Memorial Chapel 104 Fordham Rd. at Teall Ave. Burial with Military Honors Friday at 1PM in Bath National Cemetery, Bath

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