Obituary of Roberta P. Clarke

Roberta P. Clarke, of Darien, CT, passed away October 17, 2015. She was 94. Married to Edward P. Clarke, she had lived in Darien since their wedding forty-two years ago. Born in New York City, she was the daughter of Loren Seymour Pfautz of Iowa and Bertha Wimpfheimer Pfautz of Somersworth, NH. Her maternal great-grandfather was a founder of the American Velvet Mills. Roberta grew up in South Orange, NJ, and graduated from Columbia High School. She received a Bachelor of Arts with honors from Skidmore College, then worked as a textiles buyer for L. Bamberger and Company until her first marriage to Richard N. Jayson for 29 years. She had one brother, Prof. Harold W. Pfautz, who predeceased her. Roberta was a beautiful person inside and out. She was one of the longest serving volunteers at Greenwich Hospital, where she especially enjoyed providing companionship for patients while transporting them for x-rays and other tests. She also volunteered at Person-to-Person and put in many hours at Noroton Yacht Club, where both her husband and son served as commodores. She enjoyed travel, sailing, skiing, and often combined those activities for vacations with friends and family. She and Ed sailed in Turkey, Ireland, Sweden, the Caribbean, as well as all over New England; and they took ski trips to Europe where they also toured many of the historic cultural sites that Roberta had always wanted to see. She is survived by her husband Edward, her daughter Patricia A. Jayson, son William S. Jayson and his wife Anne, daughter Sally J. McGowan; grandchildren Gillian Jayson Graves, Laura Jayson, William Jayson Jr., Patrick McGowan, Logan McGowan, and Delaney McGowan; four great-grandchildren; and stepdaughters Anne C. Brown and Leigh C. Sneed and their families. The family is planning a private memorial. Donations in Roberta's memory can be made to Person-to-Person, 1864 Post Road, Darien, CT 06820. Funeral Home: Edward Lawrence Funeral Home 2119 Post Road Darien, CT USA 06820