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Cliff Govier, 44 – Long-time well-known and respected member of the AV industry was killed on Sunday, 17 August 2003 after being struck by lightning while on vacation with his family at Barnegat Light, Long Beach Island, NJ. A lifelong Manhattan resident, Cliff began his professional career in audio/video system implementation as an independent contractor, constructing broadcast and post production systems. In 1987, he founded System Exclusive, an audio/video systems design and implementation firm with a clientele that included Fortune 500 companies. With the changing marketplace in the mid 1990’s, Cliff opted to work in an AV systems design and project management capacity at several prominent New York consulting firms. At the time of his passing, Cliff was an Associate Principal in Cerami & Associates AV division.

Known for his offbeat sense of humor and quick wit, Cliff Govier was a unique, highly creative individual whose talents were not limited solely to the technical arena. An active musician and composer throughout his life, he was guitarist/vocalist for The Difference, a 4-piece northern NJ-based original rock ensemble that rose to local prominence in the early 1980’s. Though long retired from live performance, he remained frequently recording and playing privately with friends and colleagues. Cliff was an avid collector of guitars and music gear, starting at the age of 14 and amassing a formidable array of equipment. An ardent outdoorsman, Cliff enjoyed activities such as camping and hiking, skills he acquired at an early age through his experiences as a Boy Scout and at the Episcopal Camp & Conference Center (now Incarnation Center) in Ivoryton CT.

Lightning Kills Man At Beach, NY Daily News, 8/18/03

Cliff Govier Obituary

Eulogy: Fierce Spirits by Glenn Govier

Eulogy: by Leslie Pestaina

Eulogy: by Rabbi Stephen Berkowitz

Remembrance: by Eugene Seagriff

Lightning Safety: each year in the United States over 500 people are struck by lightning; on average nearly 100 of these individuals succumb to their injuries. While in the grand scheme of things this is statistically a low number, it is still tragic for those who must deal with the aftermath. This weather-related fatality is in most cases completely preventable if basic guidelines are followed. Bottom line: you are not safe outdoors in a thunderstorm and your risk of getting hit by lightning goes up significantly if you are in any open area (beach, golf course, lake, ball field, above treeline, etc.). If you and/or members of your family spend any degree of time enjoying outdoor activities, make sure all learn the facts about lightning safety.

Resources:

www.lightningsafety.com

www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov

www.usscouts.org/profbvr/lightning_safety

Music Education: primary and secondary school music education programs have been decimated in recent years due to budget cuts and lack of funding. Not seen as a priority, many public schools no longer have music education programs at all. Getting kids involved in music at an early age not only enriches them as individuals, it also helps to improve their performance in other critical areas such as basic math & reading skills, to say nothing of keeping them off the streets, out of gangs, etc. Many within the broadcast, audio and A/V industry owe their careers (directly or indirectly) to early music education. Music education is developmentally critical and should not become the exclusive province of the privileged few. Please write/e-mail/FAX your local, state and national legislators and implore them to work towards re-introducing funding for music education in the public schools. Remember those organizations that promote/support music education with your financial support.

Resources:

Save the Music

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