July 21, 1934—June 27, 2009

Clifford Charles Deci had a varied career, serving in the Marine Corps, as an Orchard Park police officer and as an employee of the U. S. Postal Service.

He died Saturday after a brief illness in the Center for Hospice&Palliative Care, Cheektowaga. He was 74.

Born in West Seneca, Mr. Deci graduated from Holland High School and enlisted in the Marine Corps, serving during the Korean War. He went on to earn a degree from California State University at Fresno.

After Mr. Deci returned to the Buffalo area, he served for 25 years as a patrolman for the Orchard Park Police Department.

He retired from the force in 1987, only to quickly take up driving an 18-wheeler for the U. S. Postal Service, a job he worked until he was hospitalized just before his death, his family said.

A Mason for 56 years, he was a member of Living Stone Lodge 255 in Colden.

Survivors include his wife, the former Earline Brown; a daughter, Shelly Kubiak; and five sons, Mark, Jeffrey, David, Christopher and Craig Fitzgerald.

Services will be at 10 a. m. Wednesday in Lombardo Funeral Home, 3060 Abbott Road, Orchard Park.