Dr. Cliff Lewis, Longtime Barnegat Bay Sailor, Was 91

MANTOLOKING, NJ -- A memorial service for Dr. Ludwig Clifford Lewis Jr., a longtime member of the Mantoloking and Bay Head yacht clubs and participant in the Barnegat Bay Yacht Racing Association, who died last week, is being planned for this summer, according to his obituary.

Dr. Lewis, known to friends as Cliff, died Dec. 23 at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, according to O’Brien Funeral Home, Brick. He was 91.

Dr. Lewis, who had his medical practice in Malvern, Pa., until he retired in 2000, moved to Mantoloking after his retirement, where he enjoyed creating beautiful gardens of chrysanthemums and dahlias. Throughout his life Dr. Lewis enjoyed competitive sailing, golf, duplicate bridge, squash, the Phillies, the Eagles, Penn Relays, and a good rum drink.

Dr. Lewis sailed on Barnegat Bay for 80 years and was a faithful competitor in the Barnegat Bay E-Scow fleet for more than 40 years, sailing his beloved “Aurora” and “Waanataa.” He was a member of Mantoloking and Bay Head yacht clubs and Merion Cricket Club, according to his obituary.

Dr. Lewis was born Jan. 17, 1924, to Ludwig Clifford and Lucy S. Jefferys Lewis in Villanova, Pa., and graduated top of his class from Episcopal Academy, Merion, Pa., in 1941. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Yale University in 1945, and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Medical School in 1951, where he was selected to be a member of Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946.

On June 7, 1953, Dr. Lewis wed Jacqueline “Jackie” H. Gillespie, to whom he was married for 63 loving years. He started a general medical practice in Malvern, Pa., where he faithfully attended to his patients for 46 years. He also served on the Malvern Borough Council for six years and was president for one term.

Dr. Lewis was predeceased by his parents; brother, Edwin Mower Lewis III, and granddaughter, Bernadette Lewis. He is survived by his wife Jacqueline of Mantoloking; son, Steven C. and his wife Ann Colie Lewis of West Suffield, Conn.; son Mark G. Lewis and his wife Cynthia Richmond of Arlington, Va.; son Jeffrey D. and his wife Debra Lewis of Ashland, Wis.; son Eric C. and his wife Paula Lewis of Wolfeboro, N.H., and son Evan B. Lewis of Grafton, N.H.; 11 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; sisters, Lucy “Lady” Ramsdell of Lakewood, and Anne Lewis Benedict of Meadow Lakes, and numerous nieces and nephews, according to his obituary.

A memorial service will be held early summer in Mantoloking. Private cremation was conducted under the direction of the O’Brien Funeral Home, Brick. For condolences to the family, please visit OBrienFuneralHome.com.

His family has requested donations to Save Barnegat Bay in his memory.