Page created by: Evvie, Holly, David, Shelly

Clifford Ishmael gently passed away on November 29, 2020, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. His wife of 53 years, Evelyn Karnes Ishmael; their three children, Holly, David, and Shelly; and seven grandchildren were at his side. He was very proud of his roots in Kentucky where he grew up with his loving parents, Houston and Kathy; his brother, Michael; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

After graduating from the University of Kentucky, Cliff enlisted in the Army and proudly served for three years. Upon his discharge from the military, he relocated to Bethlehem, PA to start a job in human resources at Bethlehem Steel Corporation. His career at Bethlehem Steel spanned 34 years where he worked in the home office in Bethlehem and later at the plant in Sparrows Point, MD. After retiring from Bethlehem Steel, Cliff continued to promote manufacturing and workforce development as co-founder of the Regional Manufacturing Institute, as a Baltimore Chamber of Commerce board member, as an adjunct professor and Executive-in-Residence at Towson University’s College of Business & Economics, and as the TIME Center grant director at Catonsville Community College.

In 2004, Cliff was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. After the initial shock and denial, Cliff recognized that Parkinson’s was his newest challenge and he approached it as his latest project. He became a proud patient at the Movement Disorder Centers at the University of Maryland Medical Center and Johns Hopkins University where he received excellent care and showed his appreciation by signing up for every clinical trial for which he qualified and by financially supporting their research. Cliff also recognized that his business acumen and experience with the disease could help others coping with their own diagnosis. He led the Harford County Parkinson’s Disease Support Group and educated nurses on living with Parkinson’s disease through the Edmond J. Safra Foundation. As the disease progressed, Cliff was anxious to find other ways to help. His final act was to donate his brain to Johns Hopkins to advance Parkinson’s-related research.

In addition to a loving family and friends, Cliff leaves behind memories of his generosity, diligent work ethic, caring spirit, and joyful sense of humor.