Who is Clifton E. Lawrence

CLIFTON E. LAWRENCE                                                                                                                                                                             Written by Ken Karnas 2025

Clifton E. Lawrence, known to everyone in Sussex-Wantage as “Mr. Lawrence” and to his friends as “Cliff,” was a special person. He worked in our school district for many years and spent his life devoted to our community and to the children of our schools.

Clifton was born in Sugar Loaf, NY in 1913 and attended elementary and high school in nearby Chester, NY. At age 20, Mr. Lawrence began his career as a teacher in Chester, NY, then continued in Franklin, NJ until 1941. From 1941—1943, he continued his teaching career at Highland Park High School where he taught a class about American Democracy and where he was voted the most popular teacher in the school.

In 1943, Mr. Lawrence was hired as the principal of the Wantage School and served in that capacity for many years before transitioning to the position of superintendent of the Sussex-Wantage School District. It was in that role that Mr. Lawrence displayed his commitment and love for the Sussex-Wantage community. He embedded himself in every aspect of the operation of our school district. He worked closely with everyone connected to our schools—the teachers, secretaries, custodians, bus drivers, Board of Education members, parents, and students. If a problem arose anywhere, he threw himself into the vortex of that problem and worked until it was solved. Mr. Lawrence knew the importance of our wider community and endeared himself to business and church leaders, scout and civic organization members, and the residents of Sussex and
Wantage. From the 1940s to the 1970s, Cliff Lawrence was recognized and respected by everyone in Sussex-Wantage.

Having devoted his life to the education of our citizenry for 42 years, Mr. Lawrence retired from Sussex-Wantage in 1975. He passed away that year at the age of 62. Today, his memory is preserved at the school that bears his name—The Clifton E. Lawrence School in Wantage, NJ.

Ken Karnas 2025