Cliff passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, November 8, 2025—of a tired heart.
One of Cliff’s favorite movies was It’s a Wonderful Life starring his distant relative, Jimmy Stewart. Cliff felt he had a wonderful life, starting with his very special and loving wife Ingrid, daughter Amy Cell and her husband Bill Schikora, son Bill and his wife Lori, and grandchildren Allie Cellber (Neil), Olivia, Blake, Henry, Cole, and Clark. Other close relatives include brother Tom, brother Dave and his wife Kathy, brother-in-law Erik Blom, and many nieces and nephews.
Cliff was born on September 24, 1942 to Ruth Moffitt and G. Clifford Sheldon. He grew up in Massachusetts and New Jersey, graduating from Long Branch (N.J.) High School. He received his A.B. from Duke University and his M.B.A. from the University of Michigan. Following graduation, Cliff worked as a management trainee at the Kroger Corporation where he learned the grocery business and found “love in the produce aisle” with Ingrid Blom who was working at Kroger to put herself through Eastern Michigan University. In 1966 Cliff and Ingrid were married and Cliff began a 40-year rewarding career in banking with Ann Arbor Bank (now PNC), Ann Arbor Commerce Bank, and Ann Arbor State Bank. He enjoyed helping businesses and individuals with their financial needs and held various titles including Executive Vice President.
Cliff believed in giving back to the community and became actively involved with many service organizations and nonprofits. He and Ingrid were onstage and backstage with the Thurston Players. Cliff was president of the Ann Arbor Jaycees, chair of the Washtenaw County Chapter of the American Red Cross, president of the Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation, the Kiwanis Club of Ann Arbor and the Waterman Alumnae Group. He served on the boards of other nonprofits and NuStep Corporation as well as various City of Ann Arbor boards and commissions. Following retirement, Cliff was a SCORE volunteer mentoring new entrepreneurs and delivered Meals on Wheels. Cliff was elected twice to the Ann Arbor City Council (1978–1982). He was unopposed in the second election and elected Mayor ProTem by his fellow city council colleagues.
Cliff and Ingrid enjoyed life in Ann Arbor, including University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan athletics, various theater and musical productions, the Ann Arbor Symphony, OLLI activities, and Waterman lunches. Then there was the bridge group, the Ann Arbor Civic Theatre play group, basketball, volleyball, and bowling teams and the GWN poker and golf group. The Sheldon family had great times at the Michigan Alumni Camp (Michigania) and traveled to interesting places within the United States and around the world. Cliff and Ingrid appreciated the golfing, dining, and tailgating at Ann Arbor Golf and Outing, and Cliff was a past president of “the little club.”
Ingrid said that she was attracted to Cliff because “he made me laugh” and they both tried to accentuate the positive in their fifty-nine-year wonderful journey through life.
A celebration of life took place on Saturday, November 15 at First United Methodist Church in Ann Arbor (120 S. State St.) at 2 p.m. A reception followedat the Church. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Kiwanis Club of Ann Arbor Foundation or Food Gatherers in his memory.