Clifford "Cliff" Kalb

Clifford “Cliff” Kalb, 77, of Hull, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully at home on September 21, 2026.

Cliff was born on June 15, 1949, in Newark, New Jersey, to Daniel and Lorraine Kalb. He grew up in South Orange and throughout central New Jersey, including Newark, and carried with him throughout his life the determination, intelligence, and strong sense of purpose that would define both his personal and professional life.

Cliff was a devoted husband, father, brother, colleague, mentor, and friend. He was a hard-working, meticulous, highly intelligent, savvy, and commanding man with a sharp sense of humor and an unmistakable presence. He was someone who believed in doing things correctly and thoroughly, and he took great pride in providing for and caring for his family.

Cliff was preceded in death by his beloved wife of more than 50 years, Barbara “Bobbi” Kalb, who passed away in Hull in 2022. Their life together was an important part of who he was, and he carried her memory with him in the years that followed.

Cliff leaves behind his daughters, Jamie Leigh Fischer and Laurie Kalb; his sister, Tina Kalb Jacobs; and his brother, Irvin Jacobs. He was preceded in death by his parents, Daniel and Lorraine Kalb, and his beloved wife, Bobbi.

Professionally, Cliff was widely recognized as a leader and highly respected figure in the fields of marketing, pharmaceutical intelligence, competitive intelligence, and strategic insight. He dedicated more than four decades to the pharmaceutical industry, working with companies including Sea Pharm, Roche, Wood Mackenzie, Epiphany, and most notably spending more than 40 years working with Merck.

His career was distinguished not only by its remarkable longevity, but by the impact of his work. Cliff contributed to important pharmaceutical initiatives involving treatments for blindness, cancer, heart disease, and psychiatric conditions. His work touched areas of medicine that changed and improved lives, and he took enormous pride in the work he did throughout his career.

Among his many professional accomplishments and honors were recognition from Merck, including a Lifetime Achievement Award; the PBIRG Lifetime Achievement Award; the SCIP Faye Brill Award; the SCIP Fellows Award; the SCIP Meritorious Award; and recognition as a founding member of the Council of Competitive Intelligence Fellows in 2017. He also served on the Board of Directors of SCIP, the Society of Competitive Intelligence Professionals.

Even after his formal retirement, Cliff never truly stopped working. He founded C. Kalb & Associates LLC, where he served as President and continued providing focused insight, expertise, and consulting. His knowledge and experience remained deeply valued by colleagues and professionals who continued to seek his guidance and advice.

For Cliff, however, the greatest legacy of his career may have been the people. Throughout decades in the industry, professional relationships often became lasting friendships. Former colleagues continued to call on him for his advice, perspective, and guidance, and those connections remained an important source of meaning and purpose in his later years. To many who knew him professionally, Cliff was a giant in his field—an inspiration, a mentor, and someone whose influence would continue long after his retirement.

Away from work, Cliff had many passions. He loved having projects around the house and could spend countless hours working on something simply because he wanted to make it better. He loved cars, professional wrestling, football, and, especially, motorcycles. He was immensely proud to own a rare 20th Anniversary Edition Harley-Davidson.

And then there were Cliff's stories.

He was an infamous storyteller, and what might begin as a quick five-minute story could easily become an hour—or five. His stories, humor, opinions, and unmistakable way of telling them were part of what made him Cliff. He could be funny and warm, but he could also be stern and commanding when the situation called for it. He was a man of strong opinions, high standards, and an equally strong commitment to the people he loved.

Above all, Cliff was a provider and a protector of his family. He took pride in making sure the needs of those around him were cared for, often with the same meticulous organization and determination that characterized his professional life.

Cliff leaves behind a legacy that extends far beyond his many professional accomplishments. He leaves behind the people he mentored, the colleagues who became lifelong friends, the work that made a meaningful impact, the stories that will continue to be told, and most importantly, the family who loved him.

He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

A celebration of Cliff’s life is being planned at the family home in Hull, Massachusetts. Details regarding the celebration of life, as well as information about memorial donations in Cliff’s honor, will be announced soon.