Cliff died at his home above the Rogue River on May 21, 2005. He graduated Portland State University, got his master's degree from the University of Oregon and his doctorate in psychology from the University of Portland.

Cliff worked for various schools districts in Oregon before taking a position with the American School in Tokyo in 1985. After returning to the states in 1987, he worked as a psychologist for the Beaverton School District until opening a private practice where he worked until retirement in 2001.