Washburn, Maine - Born in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, on December 6, 1941, Earl Clifton "Clif" Boudman II was the only son of Earl and Emily Boudman. A precocious and curious youth, he revealed an early aptitude for art, performance, sport and music - talents that would shape the course of his life. During his years at The Manlius School, a West Point prep school near Syracuse, New York, Clif was a distinguished cadet, played on the varsity golf and tennis teams, and performed as the drummer in Billy Lehman and the Rock-itts, a rockabilly band with whom he cut a 45 single.

After graduating from The Manlius School, Clif eschewed the military and began his formal study of art at Kutztown University before transferring to Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, where he completed his BFA. It was here that his passion for foreign films blossomed and inspired him to earn his MFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art's Rinehart School of Sculpture in 1966 where he attended on full fellowships.

That same year, Clif joined the faculty of the University of Maine at Presque Isle—an appointment that would define his life's work. He was drawn by the promise of teaching and the prospects of establishing the school's first fine art degree program. He not only shared his passion for art with generations of students but built a strong program that offered a wide variety of art courses. He also quietly challenged conventions and inserted his presence within the larger community. He made his lifelong home at Rum Rapids, a Loyalist homestead along the Aroostook River, where he raised his son Christian, introducing him to Nordic skiing and cycling, listening to old 45s, and cultivating a shared love of film and performance. In the 1980s, he established the Rum Rapids Inn, a bed-and-breakfast known for his exceptional cooking and warm, lively hospitality.

In 1994, Clif married Judith Litz, his devoted life partner and fellow educator, with whom he shared a deep love of art, food, education and travel. Together and over many years, they traveled to many corners of the world. They brought their worldly culinary vision to life in 2007 when they, with Jan and Roger Lucas, opened Cafe Sorpreso in Presque Isle, a fine-dining establishment inspired by their world travels.

Clif's passion for film was a cornerstone of his academic work and was manifest in his personal collection that featured thousands of titles from around the world along with his many favorite directors, including Fritz Lang, Alfred Hitchcock, Orson Welles and Stanley Kubrick. Using a 16mm projector, he and his son, Christian, screened films for the public from his collection at Pullen Hall on Sundays throughout the 1970s. Later, as a member of the Maine Film Commission, he tirelessly championed this medium as a way to promote Aroostook County, create community connection, and promote the arts; a passion he also brought to his role as a judge at the Edinburgh Film Festival in Scotland for many years.

Above all, Clif was a gifted and inspired teacher who ignited enthusiasm and confidence in those he taught. For more than four decades, he nurtured the creativity of hundreds of students, encouraging them to see the world with curiosity, courage, and imagination. He took particular pride in developing annual Art Study Tours, through which he introduced hundreds of students and community members to curated art, travel and cultural experiences in Europe and north Africa. Following his retirement, he continued to support art and the community through his volunteer work as the Artist in Residence at the Presque Isle library, where he spearheaded the development of exhibitions showcasing local and regional artists.

Clif approached all aspects of his life with adventure, humor, and ceaseless creativity. He lived fully, generously, and with a creative spirit that touched all who knew him. His legacy endures in the countless students he mentored, the community he enriched, and the art, music, food and memories he shared with those he loved. His influence endures in the lives and work of the many artists, educators, and travelers he inspired.

Clif was predeceased by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Judith Boudman of Washburn; his son, Christian Boudman and wife, Bobbi, of Wolfeboro, NH; grandson, Jackson Boudman of Ellsworth, Maine; and brothers-in-law, Richard Litz and Jorge Pena of Wiscasset, ME. Clif also leaves behind many lifelong friends, colleagues, beloved family dog and cat, and a wide circle of creatives who were among his chosen family.

The family will be inviting his friends, former students and colleagues to a Beaux Artes celebration of his life in June. Gifts in his memory can be made to the Mark and Emily Turner Library or the Aroostook Hospice Foundation, both in Presque Isle, ME. Arrangements in care of Duncan-Graves Funeral Home, 30 Church St., Presque Isle, ME 04769.