Harry Clifford Watts

Harry Clifford Watts, 91, of Westborough passed away peacefully on Saturday August 10, 2024, at his home surrounded by family.

Harry was the third child of the Watts family of Franklin, NH, born during a snowstorm April 2, 1933. It was the day after his mother’s birthday, and she always said it was the best birthday gift she ever got. His father, Paul Merrill Watts, was the mail carrier in Franklin and his mother, Julia Estelle Watts, taught music in Franklin and Tilton. The family also operated a successful family farm. Growing up in a small town during WWII, he grew bored with Franklin, and decided to pursue a military career, following in the footsteps of his older brother John Watts, a naval officer in the Pacific theater of war, with whom he kept up a frequent correspondence.  He was a voracious reader and, for a time, had the highest recorded IQ in NH. The family doctor suggested that Harry should attend Phillips Exeter Academy. Harry was accepted, attended on scholarship, and played baseball.  He later attended Harvard University on a Navy scholarship. At Harvard he met his future wife, Lynn Seibold, who was a student at nearby Wellesley College on a blind date.  After graduation, Harry, who now went by “Cliff”, married Lynn on June 16, 1956, and on that same date was newly commissioned as a naval officer. He eventually became an OCS instructor in the Navy. After completing his active duty tour, he had a successful reserve career, retiring with the rank of Commander.

Due to Cliff’s Naval career, and then his career as an executive with Norton Company, the Watts family moved frequently living in several states in the northeastern US and in Germany. They moved from Germany to Westborough in 1972 where their children attended and graduated from Westborough High School. In Westborough Cliff served on the Town Finance Committee, the Library Board of Trustees, and Arts in Common.

Cliff is survived by his sons David Watts and Timothy Watts and daughters Julia Carolino and Nancy Watts-Orfao, twelve grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Calling hours will be held from 10:30 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. on Saturday, August 17, 2024 at the Pickering & Son Westborough Funeral Home, 62 West Main Street, Westborough MA 01581.  Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers donations in his memory may be sent to Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, 322 8th Ave, New York, NY 10001