Donald E. Liff - Obituary

onald Eugene Liff of Annapolis, MD passed peacefully on December 9, 2025, at the age of 93 due to natural causes. Born on May 3, 1932, at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, DC to the late Maurice and Dorothy Lucille Gray Liff, Don grew up in Washington, DC, attending Webb Elementary, Eliot Junior High and Eastern High School. Don was a proud member of the Navy, serving on the USS Rankin (AKA-103) and the USS Oglethorpe (AKA-100) from 1951 to 1955. Don learned to barber in the Navy and loved to say he was the only one for whom the captain removed his hat. After his navy service, he attended the District of Columbia Teacher’s College where he played on the football team. Don married Barbara Ann Clark on June 16, 1956. They raised four children in Silver Spring, MD where they were very active in St. Camillus Catholic Church. Don, Barbara, and family spent their summers at the beach in Fenwick Island, DE for more than 50 years in the bay front community of Cape Windsor, their ‘happy’ place. They always had an open-door policy to everyone who wished to visit, including a boat ride, a few steamed crabs, lawn toys for the kids and a classic “Pop” joke that made us all laugh. After retiring from NSA in 1987, Don and Barbara moved to Heritage Harbour in Annapolis. You would find Don active in many social activities, including golf, playing Bridge, art classes, or enjoying the dances and parties held at the lodge. Don was a social person so living in a vibrant community suited him well. Don and Barbara moved to Brightview Senior Living (Annapolis) in 2022, where he became involved with their Veteran’s group, the poker club, and the choir and never missed a painting class (his favorite). While living in Annapolis, Don and Barbara were members of St. Mary’s/St. John Neumann for over 35 years. He is survived by his children, Terrence Clark (Gail) Liff and Rosemary Anne Liff (Scott) Kirwin; his six grandchildren, James “Jay” (Sarah) Walsh, Bradley (Stephanie) Walsh, Alexandra Liff (Patrick) Small, Caitlin Liff (Daniel) Schiavo, Keegan (Shelton) Liff and Kelsey Liff; his eleven great-grandchildren, Carter, Landon and J.R. Walsh and Dean, Blair and Henley Walsh, Clark Schiavo, Ian and Nolan Small, Cecelia Hudson and Margaret Liff; his sister, Shirley C. Frye née Liff of Hernando, FL. He is also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, cousins and their children. Donald was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Ann Liff née Clark, and his children, Donna Louise Liff (James) Walsh and Timothy Eugene (Carla) Liff. Don and Barbara were always very proud of their beautiful family. Friends are invited to celebrate Donald’s life on Friday, January 16th from 3 to 7 pm at the Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Rd, Edgewater, MD. Mass of the Resurrection will be offered on Saturday, January 17th at 10:30 am at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 620 N Bestgate Rd, Annapolis, MD. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Donald may be made to the ALS Association at ALS.com (Georgia; in memory of Timothy E. Liff). Condolences may be made by using the Memories link on this page.