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Paulette Clark Kaufmann

Paulette Clark Kaufmann died in her home on March 30 at the age of 78. A Mayflower descendant, born in Elmira, New York, on Nov. 3, 1944, she was a graduate of Wilton High School in Wilton and The University of Connecticut in Storrs. Her career in children’s book publishing began at Simon & Schuster, followed by Hill & Wang, and finally, William Morrow & Co., where she was editor-in-chief of Tambourine Books, Mulberry Books, Beech Tree Books, and Tupelo Books, as well as assistant to the president. During this time, she served as president of the Children’s Book Council and received an MBA from New York University, where she was her graduating class’s co-president.

After retirement, she became a published genealogist and co-president of the Madison Historical Society in Madison. In 2007, an exhibit she researched and wrote on the 50th Anniversary of the Connecticut Turnpike won a Connecticut Award of Merit, the first to be given to the Historical Society, and merited a visit from Ella Grasso, the then Governor of Connecticut. Later she researched, wrote, and curated exhibits on Madison’s historic schoolhouse, Lee’s Academy, as well as Madison’s involvement in The Civil War. She ran Madison’s commemoration for the War of 1812, commandeering a naval Admiral as well as the entire United States Coast Guard Marching Band. Her notes on many of the homes on Madison’s Liberty Street were given to the Charlotte L. Evarts Memorial Archives last year.

Paulette was a passionate seeker of all things ancient, especially in her annual trips to Italy, a country she loved, whose language she spoke.

She is survived by her husband, F. William Kaufmann, III; a son, Frederick Clark Kaufmann (Danielle Kaufmann); a stepdaughter, Kathryn Frances Kaufmann (Martin Chafkin); and two grandchildren, Dr. Julia Chafkin (Ken Snyder) and Will Chafkin. She leaves a sister, Vicki Clark, and two brothers, Edmond, and Howard Clark. She was predeceased by her brother Andy Clark and her parents, Natalie and Howard Clark.

The family is indebted to those healthcare professionals who so lovingly took care of Paulette for the last four years of her life.

A private funeral was held in Madison.