Clifton Neil McIntire, Jr. passed away November 27, 2023, after a brief illness surrounded by his family.
Clif was born in Chattanooga Tennessee on November 5, 1932, to Clifton Neil McIntire, Sr., and Ellen Johannah (Weiler) McIntire.
He graduated from Taft High School in Chicago Illinois, and from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing degree as part of the class of 1954. He was a member of the Beta Theta Phi Fraternity. He was also a graduate of the Securities Institute at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
While in college he married his high school sweetheart Carrol Louise Duty. Soon after graduation he began a career in sales and marketing. In 1962 he began his investment career with Hornblower Weeks by moving to Chicago, Illinois.
Over the following years he would learn much about the investment business in Chicago’s financial district but longed to return to the South. In 1971 he would relocate his family with a move to Charlotte, North Carolina joining the investment firm of R.S. Dickson, Powell, Kisler and Crawford which would merge with E.F. Hutton in 1973.
In 1986 Clif founded the Pinnacle Group and as CEO and Chairmen of the Board, became an Allied Member of the New York Stock Exchange.
Clif would go on to serve in senior management positions with PaineWebber and later as Senior Vice President with Morgan Keegan in Charlotte.
In 2009 he founded Cygnus Asset Management with his daughter Lisa McIntire-Shaw. The firm today manages financial investments for multi-generational clients from their SouthPark offices.
Throughout his investment career he held many designations including NASD Series 7 & 63, Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) as well as serving on advisory broads and committees of many organizations.
Over the years Clif would receive countless awards and accolades for his work in the investment securities industry. Much of his career is detailed in his recently published book titled “54 Years on Wall Street”.
In addition to his successes in the financial service industry Clif was an accomplished piano player and a licensed pilot, holding commercial, multi engine and instrument ratings from the FAA.
He served as usher and vestry member of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Charlotte, North Carolina for many years. Additionally served as an assistant scout master with the Boy Scouts of America helping many Scouts earn merit badges in Aviation and Boating, among other awards.
For many years Clif enjoyed assisting the Salvation Army with their annual Red Kettle Champaign. One year during the height of the Christmas shopping season an acquaintance, surprised to see Clif wearing the Army’s traditional “Red Apron” and ringing the well-recognized hand bell, approached the very successful stockbroker and solemnly asked “what happened?”. Clif jokingly stated, “I’m just catching up on my community service” but before he could explain in earnest the man responded by handing Clif a folded $100 bill and saying, “I pray things get better for you and your family”. Clif was at a loss for words but managed to thank the man while placing the money into the red kettle and wishing him a Merry Christmas just as the man disappeared into the crowd of shoppers.
Clif also owned Brigadoon Farm in Waxhaw, North Carolina where for many years he raised registered polled Hereford cattle. The farm was named for the Scottish folk legend of Brigadoon a mythical village in the Scottish Highlands.
Clif earned his United States Coast Guard captain’s license and spent many years sailing his long-range trawler yacht named Carrolu II between Charleston, South Carolina, and the Bahamas. Often wintering at Green Turtle Cay in the Abaco Islands.
Clif and his wife Carrol spent much of their recent years in the “Highlands” area of their home state of North Carolina, in the small town of Flat Rock.
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Clif and his wife Carrol boarded a cruise ship in Buenos Aires on a ten-day cruise around South America’s Cape Horn to the planned destination of Santiago Chile. The cruise was extended after it was refused dockage in Chile and at several other South American ports. Then after travelling an additional 5,482 miles, they finally docked in San Diego California after unexpectedly spending more than a month at sea.
Clif was preceded in death by his father Clifton Neil McIntire, Sr., and his mother Ellen Johannah Weiler McIntire, brothers-in-law Dennis Dale Duty, Dr. Richard W. Brown and sister-in-law Lois Arlene Duty Brown.
He is survived by his wife of 71 years Carrol Louise Duty McIntire and brother Roger McIntire and his wife Eileen.
Sons, Christian Duty McIntire and his wife Ellie, Brent Richard McIntire and fiancé Elsa, her daughters Hannah and Grace, Todd Roger McIntire and his wife Susan, daughter Lisa Ellen McIntire-Shaw and her husband Lynn Trusty Shaw.
Grandchildren; Taylor and his fiancé Montana, Heath and his wife Kayla, Patrick and his wife Leah, Megan, Sean, Lynn, Jr. and wife Krystal; Brit and her husband Blake; Stephanie and her husband Scott.
As well as nephews Bill and Bob, and nieces Pam, Jennifer, and Donna.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff of Matthews Glen, Willowbrook and countless others for their round-the-clock assistance, kindness and wonderful care that was given to Clif in his final days.
A Funeral Service will be celebrated 2 pm Monday December 4, 2023, at St. John’s Episcopal Church 1623 Carmel Rd, Charlotte, NC 28226 with the Rev Marty McCarthy and Salvation Army Major David Waite officiating.
Interment will be immediately following the service at the Forest Lawn East Cemetery 3700 Forest Lawn Drive Weddington, NC 28104.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests that memorial gifts may be made to the David B. Adams M.D. Endowed Chair / MUSC Foundation, 18 Bee Street, MSC 450, Charleston, SC 29425 or online at https://muscday.org Program: Dept of Surgery Fund Designation: David B. Adams, M.D. Chair.