Clara J. Bond M’89

Source: https://www.sevendaysvt.com/life-lines/obituary-clara-jane-bond-1940-2026/

Clara Jane Bond, 86, passed away surrounded by her family on March 30, 2026. She was born on January 9, 1940, in Rutland, Vt., to Clara Louise Bond and John Franklin Bond. Clara grew up in Adams, Mass., and earned degrees from Simmons College in 1962 and Saint Michael’s College in 1985. She was our bright and beautiful Mom and Gigi.

Clara wove her energy, creativity and love throughout her family and her Burlington community. She worked for many years with the Burlington Parks Department, where she helped shape the vibrant city she loved. She later chaired the board of the Agency on Aging in Chittenden County. She co-organized First Night Burlington, which brought us chilly fun downtown on many New Year’s Eves. Clara helped start Burlington Co‑Housing, where she and her husband, Peter Carlough, shared their lives among many dear friends.

Clara created paintings full of life and color, especially her “Gigi Birds,” which tickled our hearts. She loved traveling, particularly in the American Southwest, and flew to the Arizona desert to attend Burning Man before we knew what it was. She traveled to Cuba with friends from Christ Church Presbyterian and attended the inaugurations of both George Bush and Barack Obama. Clara and Peter hosted refugees from Tibet and remained close to the Tibetan community in Burlington. Clara traveled the world with Peter and then without him to Machu Picchu and the Galápagos Islands to touch things exciting and beautiful. She loved big adventures, including a hot-air balloon ride on a beautiful, slightly windy Vermont summer day with her children and grandchildren. When the balloon landed a bit off course, she grinned like a child herself at the farmer who ran out to greet us with a bottle of Champagne!

Clara deeply loved her two sons, Brett and Paul; Paul’s wife, Karen; her five grandchildren, Graham, Sarah, John, Jesse and Georgia; and her many nieces, nephews, and great‑nieces and great‑nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Peter Winfield Carlough, and her brother, John Allen Bond.

We are grateful for the many kind words and memories we have received and thank everyone for the loving community you created around our mom.

Please join us for a celebration of Clara Jane Bond’s life on May 31, 2026, 4 to 6 p.m., at Oakledge Park in Burlington.