Sally Louise Wilt Clifton

On Sunday, September 25th, after decades of adventure, Sally Louise Wilt Clifton, educator, pilot, world traveler, ornithologist, sailor, and ((great)grand)mother, finally came to rest five days past her 88th birthday. Sally passed quietly with family: her sister Donna Sperow, her three children Valerie (and Michael) McConnell, Jennifer (and John) Evanko, and Tip (and Robyn Zgorski) Clifton, and her niece Liza Sperow. Born to Don and Jonnie Wilt in Eustis, Florida in 1934, Sally started early on a life of inspiration through service, as a teenager becoming the first woman ever to fly the new US Air Force T33 jet trainer. She graduated Agnes Scott College in 1956 with a degree in psychology, and spent the next 45 years inspiring family, friends, and communities across Cape Cod - raising three children; leading the special education programs at Barnstable High School; co-running the Yachtsman Hotel (press and Secret Service headquarters during the Kennedy years); and through dedicated service in countless civic, environmental, and social programs. Life took her around the world - sailing to islands near and far, ornithology in Panama, survival school off Maine, air races to Australia, and environmental studies in India. She checked off her last continent in her late seventies with a scientific expedition to Antarctica. Sally LIVED life, and inspired others too: she took each grandchild, upon their 10th birthday, on their own personal one-week adventure - Nathan and Christopher McConnell; Daniel, Jason, and Thomas Evanko; and Maggie Anne, Sarah Grace, and Tad Clifton. Sally is survived by her sister, children and grandchildren above, as well as nieces Liana (Malcolm), and Sam Corbett; and Liza Sperow, (Jennifer Hinchey) and Gabriel Lerner-Sperow; nephew Michael (Kasan) and Neil Sperow; and was predeceased by her ex-husband Ted Clifton. A memorial service will be held graveside at Greenwood Cemetery in Eustis Florida on Monday October 17th at 11am, reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations appreciated to Sally’s favorite causes - National Audubon Society or New Smyrna Beach Turtle Trackers . For more information about memorial service, please email mailto:SWCliftonMemorial@gmail.com

Sally Louise Wilt Clifton

September 20, 1934 - September 25, 2022