Josephine (Clark) Barrett Boynton

Josephine (Jo) Barrett Boynton (Clark), age 89, of Milford, beloved wife of Theodore Boynton, passed away peacefully on February 28, 2024, at her home in Milford.

She brought joy, style, and a loving passion to everything and everyone in her path. A high school cheerleader and junior prom queen during her sophomore year, a registered nurse, a painter, a seamstress, business women, world traveler, avid sailor, skier, community organizer, cub scout den mother, spouse, church leader, mother to three, grandmother to six, and great grandmother of one: she was beautiful inside and out: she was Josephine Clark Barrett Boynton.

The daughter of Malcolm Ross Clark and the actress Ruth (Reed) Clark, Jo was born on December 27th, 1934 in Bronxville. She grew up in White Plains and Chappaqua, New York and after graduating high school, her family moved to Milford. After a youthful “summer in France,” she got her “Cap,” from the Bridgeport Hospital School of Nursing, and eventually became head nurse in the Emergency Room at Bridgeport Hospital. She married John P. Barrett, (Jack, and later founder of Barrett Outdoor Communications, Inc.) and transitioned to head nurse at Avco Lycoming in Stratford. She loved nursing, but out of necessity made a career change to assist her first husband’s business ventures serving as bookkeeper, office manager, and construction manager.

For years, she was a devoted member of the First United Church of Christ in Milford, serving as choir mother, choir member, handbell ringer, church moderator and director of plays such as God Spell, The Fantasticks, Amal and the Night Visitors, many others. Jo was an avid gardener and for many years member of the Milford Garden Club, and a den mother for Cub Scout Pack 8 in Point Beach. It was not uncommon for one of her now adult cub scouts to go out of their way to thank her for being their den mother. Always curious, always expressing, urging onward, she found hobbies like skiing, scuba diving, sailing, the art of Bonsai (Japanese flower arranging,) oil painting and even bungee-jumping! (just a time or two) She traveled everywhere, from Brazil to Puerto Rico, Russia, Italy, France, Honduras, Greece, Ireland, India, Egypt, Haiti, Israel, Jordan, The Dominican Republic, Canada, Mexico, and from her studio immortalized her excursions in oils, watercolors, and acrylics, giving treasured remembrances to her family and friends. She dressed in stylish elegance, and well into her eighties kept a classic French manicure and coiffed hair, while staying physically active with water aerobics, gardening, and walks, but rarely without her signature scent of Coco Chanel. And as beautiful as she was, nothing compared to her inner radiance, her kind heart, and her loving and generous spirit. She was adored by all who knew her.

Jo is survived by her two grateful sons, John Barrett and Bruce Barrett, their lovely wives, Nina Barrett and Therese Eke, and her beloved niece Deborah Vargovchik and her husband Jeff. She leaves also her grandchildren Patrick Barrett, Robert Barrett, Sarah Barrett, and Joshua Barrett, grandniece, Katerina Vargovchik, grandnephew, Jeffrey Vargovchik, and great grandson, Jackson Letarte. She also leaves her dear sister Patricia Sena (Clark), and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and neighbors. She was predeceased by her first husband, John (Jack) Barrett, siblings, the poet Mollybee Welkin, (Roberta Clark) and Malcolm Clark Jr.

Tremendous and heartfelt thanks go to Diane Volante from Home Instead, who provided a peaceful and compassionate environment during Jo’s transition from this life to the next and to Home Care Plus who supplied first rate hospice care and taking care of our family by managing all of Jo’s medical needs.

A celebration of life will be held on May 4th at 11:00 AM at the Woodmont United Church of Christ, 1000 New Haven Ave., Milford, CT 06460. Contributions may be made in Jo’s name to any of the following:

The Milford Arts Council 40 Railroad Ave South, Milford, CT 06460.
Jerusalem Peacebuilders, PO Box. 3071, Milford CT
Save The Sound, 127 Church St 2nd Floor, New Haven, CT 06510.