Clifford E. Barton

NORWALK, CONN Clifford E. Barton, a retired local educator, civic leader died peacefully at his home in Norwalk early Thursday morning, April 8, 2010. He was 90 and had recently suffered a stroke. Clifford Eugene Barton was born in Fall River, Mass on February 20, 1920. He was the second child of the late Cordell H. Barton and Pauline Saxon Barton. He was pre-deceased by his elders sister Phyllis Barton Bailey. He attended BMC Durfee High School, graduating in 1937 as an honor student. He briefly worked with his father for the Fall River Line Steamship Company before attending college. An outstanding athlete he attended Florida A&M University on an athletic scholarship. Prior to graduation he moved to New York and began a career as jewelry designer. During the war years, Mr. Barton trained in fine and costume jewelry production and manufacture at Marcel Bouchet Jewelry Designers, NY. He became a skilled practitioner of the then new lost wax method of casting. He was promoted to a position of manufacturing consultant and traveled between New York and Providence, RI training jewelers in both locations. Ultimately he was hired by Benrus Watch Manufacturer's, where he worked until returning to school to complete his college degree. While working in New York he met and married the late Sylvia Pauline Alves in 1946. He moved to New Britain, Connecticut to attend Central Connecticut State University, graduating in 1949. In 1951 he received a masters degrees in education and organizational theory from Columbia University's Teachers College. Mr. Barton began his career in 1950 as a classroom teacher at Center Junior High School in Norwalk. In 1958 he joined the Westport Public School system where he served as a classroom teacher, speech pathologist, and an assistant superintendent. He retired in 1987. Throughout his career he maintained a private practice as speech pathologist and educational consultant. He was a principal of the firm Tape Books and later a partner in the firm, Educational Courseware Consultants. In 1950, Mr. Barton and his wife moved to the Carver Apartments in Norwalk., . In 1958 with the support of a group of individuals who would become life long friends, they purchased a home on Stonecrop Road integrating the neighborhood and beginning an engagement with a wide range of civic and cultural affairs that continue up to his death. He held a variety of appointed positions including appointments to the various municipal agencies. He spent over twenty years as a member of the Norwalk Redevelopment Agency, which included a number of years chairing the Agency. During his tenure on the Agency conceived and implemented plans to redevelop many sections of the city including Washington Street. Barton served on the Mayor's Blue Ribbon Commission l on Race Relations and the North Walker Housing Corporation which he also chaired. In addition to his municipal activities Barton served on a variety on the boards of many local public service and cultural organizations including the Carver Foundation, Mid-Fairfield Child Guidance Center, Norwalk Hospital, and the Norwalk Power Squadron. He was a founding member of the boards of the Norwalk Arts Council and Norwalk Maritime Center. Mr. Barton is survived by his son, Craig Evan Barton, of Charlottesville, VA., his wife Marthe Rowen, their children Juliana Rowen Barton, Nathalie Padgett Rowen Barton and Nicholas Terence Rowen Barton and his son, Scott Alves Barton of New York, NY and his partner Michelle Washington. The Barton family will receive friends on Saturday, April 17, 2010 in Norwalk's Hoyt-Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 5 East Wall Street from 3:00PM - 6:00PM. Funeral services and interment will be held privately and at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made Fund in memory of Clifford Barton to either the Carver Foundation (http://www.carvercenterct.org/), or the Norwalk Maritime Center Children's Opportunity Fund.