Final Salute

Clifford “Cliff” Persson, age 85, of Falls Church, Va, departed this earth on Sunday, March 2, 2025. He was born on November 13, 1939, in Manhattan, NY, to parents, Sven and Marion.
After serving in and playing football for the Navy, Cliff moved to the Washington DC area and met the love of his life, Dorothy. Excited to start their new lives together, the two were married in 1963. With his experience gained as a Seabee in the Navy, Cliff worked as a bridge construction foreman for many years, often traveling overseas to England and other areas of Europe for his work. From 1970 to 1973, he was proud to have led a crew constructing the second span of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge which, when finished, became the longest dual-span suspension bridge in the world for its time. He pursued and obtained his Master Mariners License and served as the Harbor Master for the Gangplank Marina and Waterfront in Washington, DC. His creativity and craftsmanship eventually led him to start his own stone-working business in Fairfax, Virginia, where he eventually retired.

His most notable accomplishment was designing and constructing the family’s second home on the Chesapeake Bay. Affectionately known as “The Bay,” many weekends were spent and memories made with family and friends at the house he treasured while sailing his many Hobie Cats on the water he loved.

Cliff was a remarkable craftsman, artist, and photographer. His love of woodworking, art, and nature was evident in the way he lived. Walking anywhere he spent time, you will find something he designed, created, constructed, or was in the middle of working on up until his last days. Cliff found great passion in learning and studied for countless hours on the projects he worked on to authentically capture his “vision.” In his last years, he even taught himself to paint using watercolors and, of course, continued with his never-ending projects.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 62 years, Dorothy, son Mark, daughter Sheri Akin, son-in-law Joe Akin, grand-daughter, Julia Hoy, brothers Ken Persson and Mark Persson, sister Karen Kopec, and his many nieces and nephews.

He is also predeceased by his much-loved grandson, Nicholas Hoy. Our hearts are lighter knowing the two of them are watching over us and playing football or sailing together in the heavenly skies.

A visitation for Clifford will be held Friday, March 7, 2025 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at National Funeral Home, 7482 Lee Highway, Falls Church, VA 22042. A funeral service will occur Saturday, March 8, 2025 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at Saint Philip Catholic Church, 7500 St Phillips Ct, Falls Church, VA 22042. A committal service will occur Saturday, March 8, 2025 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM, 7482 Lee Highway, Falls Church, VA 22042.