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Clayton Valli Obituary
Dr. Clayton L. Valli, 51, American Sign Language Poet, Teacher, Linguistics Professor, formerly of Seabrook, N.H, died Friday, March 7, 2003 at the Baptist Hospital, in Miami, Florida. Born in Newburyport, MA on May 25, 1951, he was the son of the late Frances S. Valli, Jr. He was a 1971 graduate of Austine School for the Deaf in Brattleboro, Vermont in 1971. He graduated with a B.A. degree in Social Psychology in 1978 from the University of Nevada-Reno, and with an M.A. Degree in Linguistics in 1985 from Gallaudet University in Washington, DC. He completed his doctorate in Linguistics and American Sign Language (ASL) Poetics at the Union Institute in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1993 and worked as a professor, a consultant, a presenter, and a trainer related to ASL poetry and linguistics, at Gallaudet University. He was the co-author of 4 books and numerous articles relating to the structure and use of ASL. After his retirement, he continued to work as a part time editor for the Gallaudet University Press and enjoyed traveling around the world as a Lecturer. Mr. Valli is survived by his mother Alice P. Eaton (Bagley), two brothers Kim Valli and his wife Barbara of West Hartford Ct., George Perkins and his wife Mila of North Hampton, NH, two sisters, Frances Eaton and her husband Allen of Seabrook, NH, Carla Perkins and companion, Susan Portor of South Hampton. Five nieces, Michele Chapdelanie, Stacy Wasson, Corri Eaton, Sophia Valli and Jessica Valli. He is also survived by an international community of friends and loved ones. A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 22, at 11 am at Remick & Gendron Funeral Home 811 Lafayette Road Hampton, NH 03842 (Subject to Change) A memorial service will also be held at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., date to be announced. Burial will be in Wildwood Cemetery, Seabrook, NH In lieu of flowers a Scholarship will be set up for Deaf students wanting to continue their education. Memorial donations may be sent to the Dr. Clayton L. Valli Scholarship Fund, c/o Frances Eaton, 37 Folly Mill Terrace, Seabrook, NH 03874.
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Memories and Condolences
for Clayton Valli
Sue Philip
March 27, 2003
Kim...
I am truly sorry about your brother and I know there is no best words to express about his passing ...I am hoping it will help you to know how important he is to many people for his poetry work. He taught many children and people about preserving our ASL and expressed ASL in poetry in a creative and artistic with rhythms ...it will always carry on years and years. You will always be reminded by many people from differnt paths. That is something you will be proud of now and always. Clayton is among with many of his Deaf friends around us.....I am with you. I could not go to the memorial services myself but am hoping as I heard that there may be a memorial service in Mass so am waiting for this....give my sympathies to your family and take care
Sue Philip
Rene Pellerin (Austine '72)
March 24, 2003
To Kim and Family, Clayton is a great loss. But we will carry his work forever. It was a pleasure to be a good friend! We will always remember, Clayton, for his unselfish caring and love for the children and their education. A true legend!
corri eaton
March 24, 2003
You have given me the strength to let you go so you can be free of all pain and suffering now.....You were my favorite uncle and i looked up to you with great inspiration...I will live through you now by going to school to become what you were a legacy to everyone.....I will make you proud of me uncle clayton......I love you
Alan Gifford
March 21, 2003
To Clayton and his family,
My condolences for you and there are no words to describe this huge loss.
Clayton, we had great times as classmates, teammates at Austine and as roommates at NTID. Oh those wild crazy laughters we had, calling each other names like nincompoop and so on.
You have done extremely well and you have my greatest respect and admiration. It was an honor to know you and have you as my friend.
Amazing, the word "PAH", you used to use that during the high school years and it boggles my mind how that became an household word.You funny guy!
To everyone reading this, you have been blessed for knowing and being a part of Dr. Clayton Valli's life.
Rest Well!
Alan Gifford
Classmate at Austine (71)
Kathleen LeClair-Carter
March 16, 2003
With deepest sympathy to the family, our childhood neighbors. Clay was a sweet, sensitive soul. I'm not surprised to learn he became a poet. Kathleen (Kathy LeClair) Carter for the entire LeClair family.
Susan Phillips
March 16, 2003
Clayton
When you left, I felt a sudden pain. As emptiness, a sudden rain. For you took with you a piece of us all. Some of our hearts, some of our smiles, some of our joys, some of our all.
But Clayton, you left behind something for us all. And that Clayton, we're all grateful for.
You left behind your memories a gift to us all.
We can remember your smile, your laughter and joy. We'll remember your determination, your confidence and coy. We'll remember the times together, the beach fun and all. But most of all, we'll remember that you had given us your all with much love and memories!!
Thank you, Clayton from the bottom of my heart and I pray for Clayton's family, relatives and friends with comfort with a gentle heart and strong.
jace eaton
March 16, 2003
I love you uncle Clayton *smiles*
Love Jace
Betty Jo Steinman
March 14, 2003
The family,freinds and the world has lost a true gift from GOD.
ruby and burton durian
March 14, 2003
Dear Kim and family
Our prayers are with you. We know Kim and her family very well. We did not know her hubby's family very well. Wish we could have known him he must be fun to be one of the friends. May God Take Care of him.
Burton and Ruby
Merlene (Bagley) Tirone
March 14, 2003
"Hi handsome, how's my brainy cuz?" This is how I started every instant message to Clayton. He would reply with "Great *blushing* but I'm not handsome." We had frequent conversations, talking about many things, but always about our genealogy....he was thrilled when I told him I had it back to Charles Martel AD732, father of Charlemagne the Great. We talked about our happy childhoods, and at one time I wrote him an inch by inch description of our Mammie's house at Cross Beach. He loved it and wanted me to publish it. I wish I had saved his letter of reply. Each time we talked, I told him how proud I was of him. We always ended our talks with "I love you, Cuz." Clayton's early passing is a great loss to our family, and also to the deaf world. He will be missed and remembered for generations.
Michele Chapdelaine
March 13, 2003
What else is there to say, all of you, friends, family, students have said it all and more. Uncle Clayton was one of the finest men I know, a life too short, but many trails of forfillment left for many to follow. I will miss and love him and will remember him always.
Michele
p.s Marc, Mason and Adam give regards as well....your missed dearly...
Stacy Wasson
March 13, 2003
Uncle Clayton was a strong fighter. He was a hard working person who did very well in life. To accomplish what he did throughout his life was amazing. His life was cut too short and had everything going for him. He will be greatly missed and always remembered. His smile, laugh, giggles, and facial expressions will always be stored in my mind. He is resting now very comfortably, looking down on us with a big smile. His hands are in the sign language position saying "I Love You". We love you Clayton, Love John, Stacy, Paige and Blake Wasson
Kimberly Lutes
March 13, 2003
My Uncle Clayton was one of the kindest men I ever had the honor of knowing, I just wish I could have known him better. He will greatly missed by many.
"Pink roads of clouds winding
through the sky, where birds
find their path, where God's
angels fly.
Wings outstretched as they now
soar, where they knock at your
great door.
Faces now memories of those we've
loved are safe with you in
Heaven above." K.Lutes
We will all miss you Uncle Clayton.
Ned Casey
March 13, 2003
To a wonderful friend,classmate,team mate at Austine.
Carla Perkins
March 13, 2003
I have read the guest book entries and see how much Clayton was loved and will be missed. It is hard to fathom that he is not there enjoying life the way he did - that he will not show up and share his smile and light up the room with his sweetness. I will miss him terribly. He was a loving man that gave of himself when he was here and also when he is gone. We did not have enough time with him.
With Much Love, from his sister, Carla
corri eaton
March 12, 2003
To My Uncle Clayton
Every once in a while I see him smile turns my day around A man with the skill and had every will to make the deaf community a place to call home he put his whole self into what he did...He was a friend of a freind a freind til the end to everybody thats the kind of man he was...very much loved by everyone around him family, friends, and co workers....He was definetly an inspiration in many young and old... He was taken away so young without a warning....He was such a fighter and so full of life... I know he is here taking away all of our tears....Think of my uncle Clayton as an inspiration and somone who loved what he did....He lived a life full of adventure, now he will share his talent in heaven...God must of thought it was his time to go where he was needed in heaven.... Be strong for him I know that he would want it that way...I love you and you will always be missed...Your niece Corri
LouAnn (Warner) Pignataro
March 12, 2003
Kim France and Members of the Family I would like to offer my Sympathy to all the members of the Valli Family
Clayton has always been one of my (old ) great friends
Many of his friends from Crotched Mountain School for the deaf will surely miss him He was a greatest person and memory of him
Please assured of my prayers and may Clayton rest in Peace
Carol-lee Aquiline
March 12, 2003
From the World Federation of the Deaf, to Valli's family: our thoughts are with you all. The Deaf World, and indeed the world in general, will sorely miss this wonderful poet, teacher, creator, linguist and all-round wonderful person. Thank you, Valli, for sharing so much of yourself with so many of the world's Deaf people.
Karen Mueller-Harder
March 12, 2003
Clayton was my teacher at Northeastern a few years back--he was an inspiring teacher, and one of the sweetest people I've had the pleasure of meeting in my life. He will be deeply missed.
Rosemary Plummer
March 11, 2003
He will be greatly missed. He will never be forgotten for many reasons.
Norman Lafond
March 11, 2003
Alice, Kim, Frances and members of the family.
I would like to offer my sympathy to all the members of the Valli family. Clayton has always been one of my greatest friends. We went to school together at Crotched Mountain School for the Deaf and also the Austine School. Many of his friends from both these schools will surely miss him. He was well liked and he was a great person. Please assured of my prayers and may Clayton rest in peace.
N.Lafond, a '67 graduate of CMSD and '71 Austine School.
Edward Beasley
March 11, 2003
Your great career has been cut short and you will be sorely missed. My condolences to your bereft family. Faculty Marshall
Norman Lafond
March 11, 2003
Alice, Kim, Frances and members of the family.
I would like to offer my sympathy to all the members of the Valli family. Clayton has always been one of my greatest friends. We went to school together at Crotched Mountain for the Deaf and also the Austine School. Many of his friends from both these schools will surely miss him. He was well liked and he was a great person. Please be assured of my prayers and may Clayton rest in peace.
Norm Lafond, Sr.
A '67 graduate of CMSD and '71 Austine School
Steve Weiner
March 11, 2003
Rest well, friend, in your new home among your loved ones and friends.
Tashi Bradford
March 11, 2003
He will live on in our memories, by his work, and through his poetry. He is forever our T-E-D-D-Y B-E-A-R.
Happy trails, Clayton!
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