Clifford Charles Gramer, “George” Clifford Charles Gramer,

Jan. 4—Clifford Charles Gramer, “George” Clifford Charles Gramer, “George”, passed away on December 5th, 2024, just short of his 83rd birthday. Cliff was an early Christmas present to his parents, Clifford Arthur Gramer and Mary Curtis Gramer, in Chicago IL. He was joined later by his twin siblings Linda Hawkins Sperling and Arthur Curtis Gramer in 1946. The family of five lived in Riverside Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. A big athletic guy, with curly auburn hair, Cliff was a popular student-athlete. Cliff (or “George” as his family called him), graduated Riverside-Brookfield High School in 1958, where he held the 100-meter butterfly record for at least two decades and excelled scholastically. Amidst his boyish antics on and off-the-field, Cliff met the love of his life…golf. Cementing the foundation for one of his principal philosophies, “always be learning”, after graduating Cliff went on to attend Yale University. While earning his B.A. in English Literature from Yale, Cliff continued his swimming career, earning All-American honors. After graduating in 1966, Cliffy moved to Chicago and began the next leg of his academic career at Northwestern Law School, earning his J.D. in 1968. After a brief first marriage and stint at a prestigious Chicago law firm, Cliff decided the traditional path he had been walking wasn’t for him. He left Chicago behind, spending the early part of the 1970s driving his green van and golf clubs across the Southwest and Mexico; working on his tan and scuba diving in cenotes. Supporting himself with part-time jobs as he explored, Cliff eventually decided on becoming a ‘ski-bum’ landing a job at Hotel Edelweiss in Taos, N.M. After a year of living on the slopes, Cliff decided to utilize his education and began studying for the New Mexico bar. Coincidentally at another bar on the Santa Fe plaza, Cliff met his future wife of 44 years, Mary Sundstrom, sealing their fate with a kiss on New Year’s Eve of 1976. Mary, a well-known artist, and Cliff with his own law practice, decided to put roots down in Santa Fe, NM, marrying in an outdoor ceremony April 19, 1980. A year later the couple welcomed their first child, Ilsa Sundstrom Gramer. Cliff kept the family name going with the birth of Clifford Anders Gramer in 1985. In 1989, their third and final child, Anna Marie Gramer, was born. The family of five later moved to Albuquerque in 1990. Committed to being a good father, and probably scared of the consequences of not “paying attention”, Cliff structured his life around attending practices, coaching his kids, and keeping his law practice going. He was a lifelong learner and student, with some of the best penmanship one could hope for. An inscrutable and private man, Cliff spoke when he had something to say. Cliff is survived by his siblings, his wife Mary, his kids and his grandchildren, Layla Hayden Gramer, Clifford Ari Gramer, and Evelyn P. Waid. His family will be hosting a celebration of Cliff’s life at one of his favorite spots, The Santa Ana Golf Course Prairie Star Restaurant, on Saturday January 25, 2025, from 11 am to 2 pm. Family, friends, and community members, please join us to reminisce, share stories, and celebrate his life. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to ACLU in his name. Please visit directfuneralservicesabq.com to view the complete obituary and to leave a condolence for the family. Arrangements by Direct Funeral Services, 2919 4th ST. NW. ABQ. 505-343-8008