CAMDEN — Clifford Richards Cameron, Sr., passed away February 11, 2019.

Born in Rockland, Maine on 23 March 1928 to Evelyn and Seymore Cameron, Cliff spent his boyhood days growing up with friends in the Midcoast. His early times were spent on the waters of Penobscot Bay as a bosun of the Rockland Sea Scouts, and Lake Megunticook with family, forming a passion for the water that he would carry throughout his life.  

A graduate of Rockland High School 1946 and then Maine Maritime Academy 1949, he served 24 years as a U.S. Naval officer, with duties on Patrol Craft, Ice Breaker Burton Island, the 6th Fleet Flagship Cruiser Little Rock, and Defense Intelligence tours in Vietnam, Iceland, and at the U.S. Pentagon.  

He married Betty Stetson of Camden in 1950 and they shared a busy life with the military and then with the local Camden community when he retired at the rank of Commander in 1974.  

Upon retirement he worked for the Allen Agency and then ultimately started his own insurance business, Maine Life and Health Services. He was a veteran of both the Korean and Vietnam wars, a passionate member of Maine Maritime Academy Alumni Association and the Academy Board of Trustees, The Propeller Club, and Camden Lions Club.  

He was known as a wonderful soul, quick with a joke and a friendly word.

He was predeceased by two sisters, Diane Paul and Sally Wylie.  

He leaves behind his wife of 74 years, Betty, his sons Sandy and Ben; daughter in-laws Kari and Cindy; grandchildren Matthew, Eli, James, Sadie, Greg, Noah, a great grandson Declan; a sister Suzie Cameron of Orange, CA; and several nephews and nieces as well as longtime friends from the academy, local clubs, and community.  

A private memorial service will be held for the family with interment in the Mountain View Cemetery in Camden.  

A service with military honors will be announced in the spring.

If desired, memorial gifts may be made in his memory to the Maine Maritime Class of 1949 Scholarship Fund, c/o MMA Development Office, 1 Pleasant St., Castine, ME 04420.

Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.longfuneralhomecamden. Arrangements are with the Long Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 9 Mountain Street, Camden.