When he wasn’t running errands for the family restaurant, Lisa’s Radial Cafe, or taking care of his late wife Lisa, he was playing, talking about or listening to music. A true rock-n-roller, Cliff spent many years playing in bands from his youth and was most at home with an instrument in his hands. He could play anything but his true love was the saxophone. He also played keyboard, guitar, bass, and taught the banjo, which he learned from his father, William “Bill” Schembri, who played in the Navy Blues Band, and his mother, Eleanor Santana Schembri, who taught music as a school teacher.
Cliff and his brother William Daniel “Danny” Schembri picked up their father’s passion for cars and music, and Cliff worked for many years as an auto body mechanic and painter. He retired in 2000 when the family bought the Radial Cafe (now Lisa’s Radial Cafe), but that didn’t stop him from working on various pet projects, including restoring a 1960s Dodge Dart and his beloved 1970s “Golden Eagle” Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Cliff will be remembered for his quickness to laugh, for his bright smile, and for his passion and talent for music. He was also an avid fan of country western films and ephemera and classic automobiles.
Cliff is survived by a large extended family and his aunt Alice (Santana) Craddick, siblings Danny and Dorothy Schembri, daughters Rebecca Schembri, Meghan Schembri McLarney, Jennifer Farris, and Marie-Elena Schembri, and adopted son and grandson Jacob Schembri, as well as grandchildren Sarah Schembri, Elizabeth Galindo-Schembri, Joseph Schembri, Victoria Schembri, Emily Maguire, Mackenzie Maguire, Katelyn Maguire, Logan Maguire, and Asher McLarney. He has three great-grandchildren, Julian Schembri, Sam Schembri and Charlotte Schembri.
Cliff is preceded in death by parents William and Eleanor Schembri, wives Karen Sauer, Patricia Schembri, and Lisa (Savin) Schembri, and son Adam Schembri.
A visitation will be held at Westlawn Hillcrest Memorial Chapel in Omaha, Nebraska on Monday, June 17 at 3 p.m.
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