Obituary of Clifford Erle Sanborn

NISKAYUNA, NY: Clifford Erle Sanborn, Jr., 92, passed away peacefully at Ellis Hospital on Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Cliff was born in Scotia on February 13, 1930 to Marion Mitchell Sanborn and Clifford Erle Sanborn. For almost 38 years he had been the loving and caring husband to Vera Moucha Sanborn. Cliff was proud to serve his country in the United States Army. After his honorable discharge he worked for the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory (KAPL) in Niskayuna retiring as Chief Reactor Operator. With a passion for golf, Cliff played regularly in leagues and with friends. When upstate New York weather was not golf-friendly he often played in South Carolina and Florida or simply enjoyed watching the PGA Tour and LPGA on television. An avid jigsaw puzzler, Cliff completed more than 120 puzzles during the COVID pandemic and most recently was a Daily WORDLE enthusiast. Cliff is survived by his adoring daughters Kimatha Sanborn Cydylo (Joseph) and Vickie Sanborn Byrnes and step-daughter Nancy Aust Strickland (David). Cliff had five grandchildren Walter Byrnes, III, Rex Byrnes, Peter Byrnes (Denise), Amanda Congetti Allen and Brennan Aust. He had four great-grandchildren Jakob Byrnes, Kennedy Byrnes, Shane Allen, Jr. and Lucy Byrnes and two sisters Marion Sanborn Haight and Joyce Sanborn Kernaghan. He was the gentle “comfort human” to his grand-dog golden retriever ELLE. Cliff was predeceased by his parents, his first wife Marylou Fitzgerald Sanborn, grandson Shane Cognetti, brother Richard Sanborn and brother-in-law Robert E. Haight, Jr. A visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 8, from 10a.m. – 10:30a.m. followed by a funeral service at Jones Funeral Home, 1503 Union Street, Schenectady. Interment with military honors will follow at Evergreen Memorial Park in Colonie. Memorial contributions may be made in Cliff’s name to the First Tee, P.O. Box 3055, Ponte Vedra, FL 32004 or VGA (Veteran Golfers Association) 100 Magnolia Road, Suite 101, Pinehurst, NC 28374.