Jean Atherton, 96, a former resident of New Canaan, Connecticut and Naples, Florida passed away peacefully on September 18, 2024 in Trumbull, CT with her family by her side.
Jean Atherton
Jean, a beloved mother of three, grandmother of nine and great grandmother of four, was born on October 7, 1927, to the late Marjorie Tribit and Eugene Johnston of California and was preceded in death by her loving husband of 58 years, Stanley Howard Atherton. Jean grew up in Beverly Hills and Hermosa Beach, California, studied theater at UCLA and was a member of Alpha Phi Sorority. Jean was a natural leader, serving as president of her high school Girls’ League, president of CT alumni chapter of Alpha Phi, VP of the American Women’s League in Sydney, Australia, VP of the Newcomers Club in New Canaan and a founding member of the Kiwi Club in Naples, FL.
After graduation in 1949, she joined the pioneering young women in the early days of commercial aviation as an American Airlines stewardess based out of Chicago. She left behind her beloved airline career once married and began her happiest years raising three children, beginning in southern California, then predominately in New Canaan, CT where they moved in 1959 and lived until Stan’s retirement from IBM in 1987. The family also spent two years living in Sydney, Australia in the early sixties, which was a highlight of Jean’s abundant life. A loving, faithful and creative mother, she devoted care to her family until the day she died.
During her years in New Canaan, Jean was an entrepreneur, founding Finders Keepers in 1973, a high-end clothing consignment boutique, which she managed until her fulltime relocation to Florida. The store drew hundreds of loyal customers who loved finding stylish bargains and befriending the vivacious Jean. She was a stylist for the Carlisle Collection, where she became a top national saleswoman and established the first territory on the Gulf Coast of Florida. Jean’s passions included attending Philharmonic classical concerts in NYC and Naples, dancing, entertaining, playing bridge and dressing elegantly.
Jean and Stan loved their many years of traveling around the world and especially treasured their 1989 church trip to Israel, led by Rev. Terry Fullam. The experience of walking the path where Jesus walked was transformative for Jean and strengthened her deep and life-long faith in Jesus. Jean felt she was never the same afterwards. She loved her St. Mark’s (New Canaan), St. Paul’s (Darien) and St. John’s (Naples) church communities and Bible study groups.
Jean is survived by her three children, Craig Kimball of Shelton, CT, Robert Kent (Katy) of Norwalk, CT and Kimberly Jean Atherton Fox (Dan) of Easton, CT.
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