Clifford Clark “Cliff” Humphrey, a founder of the modern environmental movement, died January 3, 2024 in Truth or Consequences, NM. Cliff was born January 11, 1937 in Pasadena, California to Eunice Clark and Gleason Humphrey. As a youth Cliff was active in the Boy Scouts of America, attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. He attended Stockton Junior College (San Joaquin Delta College) before enlisting in the Army, where he was assigned to Post Finance at Fort Devens, MA (1961-1963). Cliff married his first wife Mary Pacios Tayor December 29, 1962, Boston, MA, and became a dedicated father to her three children, William Paul Taylor, Marilyn Taylor, and Janice Taylor. Under the “Cold War G.I. Bill,” Cliff attended Merritt College, Oakland, CA, before transferring to the University of California, Berkeley. Cliff received his BA from California State University, San Francisco (c. 1969).
Cliff with Betty Schwimmer, Chuck Herrick and his then-wife Mary Pacios Humphrey, co-founded Ecology Action (1967), a grassroots organization, that spawned over 240 Ecology Action groups throughout the United States prior to the first Earth Day (April 22, 1970). The New York Times published an article about Ecology Action: “The Better Earth” Steven V. Roberts, The New York Times Magazine, Mar. 1970, 8, 53-56. Cliff’s photo graced the cover of the magazine, a Sunday supplement.
Ecology Action set up the first citizen’s recycling program in the U.S. since World War II in Berkeley, CA (1968). Cliff continued his pioneering recycling efforts in Modesto, CA with the non-profit Ecology Action Institute (1970-1980), setting up the first curbside recycling program in the country. The Ecology Action and Ecology Action Institute papers are housed in the Special Collections, Bancroft Library, University California, Berkeley; this is a link to the collection: The Problem Is a Crisis - The Berkeley Revolution - The Berkeley Revolution
Cliff lectured and gave workshops on college campuses throughout the U.S. At a recycling conference in San Francisco, Cliff received the “Recycler of the Decade” award by his peers. His first book, a supplementary high school text, was based on his college essay, “A Unifying Theme,” published in the Daily Californian (c. 1967). His second book, a bicycle handbook, was based on Cliff’s bicycling experience a (c.1969).
Cliff met his second wife Billy Shupp in harmony Grove, a spiritual community. They moved to Truth or Consequences, New Mexico in 1998. Cliff and Billy taught Abraham Hicks classes together and traveled extensively, spending their final years together in the mountains of southern New Mexico.
Cliff Humphrey is survived by his son: Stephen Clark Humphrey, Kennewick, WA; grandson Andrees Izak Mogollon Humphrey Pacios (Margaret Hale), Tucson, AZ; great-granddaughter Beatrice Mogollon, Tucson, AZ; step-daughter Janice Taylor, El Cerrito, CA; step-son William Paul Taylor (Brenda Contreras), Berkeley, CA; brother David Gleason Humphrey of Anaheim, CA; nephew Nathan Humphrey (Anne Stone) of Toronto, Canada; niece Anna Dwinger (Jason) of Orange, CA; great-nephews Andrew Humphrey and Aiden Dwinger; great-nieces Margaret Humphrey and Katie Dwinger. Predeceased by his second wife Billy Shupp; nephew Paul David Humphrey; step-daughter Marilyn Taylor, and sisters-in-law Lois Humphrey and Marilyn Humphrey, both of whom preceded their husband, David, Cliff’s brother, in death.
Cliff was declared indigent upon his death; his body to be claimed by the state, which would have his ashes buried in an unmarked grave. His out-of-state family members and friends raised the money to have a proper cremation at the Kirikos Funeral Home, Truth or Consequences, NM. The ashes of Cliff Humphrey will be scattered in the wilderness he loved, exact place and time to be determined. He will not only be missed for his overwhelming perspective of humanities’ responsibility to take care of the earth, but too, for his own genuine nature and loving spirit for all life.