Cleveland Bradford Horton ... former owner of Calef's

BARRINGTON - Cleveland Bradford Horton, a former owner of Calef's Country Store, in Barrington, and a former bureau chief at Advertising Age magazine in Los Angeles, died at home in Barrington on October 8. He was 66 years old.

As co-owner with his then wife, Lindy Cobb Horton, of a store that had remained in the Calef family since 1869, Mr. Horton would say that he was a custodian of the store's history. Cleve and Lindy restored and expanded the store, which came to serve -- and continues to serve -- as a gathering place for the community. Under their leadership, the store put on such annual events as the Truck Show, chili cook-offs, and crafts fairs. It was a regular stop for politicians on the stump, and a tourist destination for travelers seeking New England charm.

Mr. Horton loved Barrington. He threw himself into many community events, and served in such roles as president of the Chamber of Commerce. His friends had great fun getting together at his beloved home, overlooking a beautiful marsh.

Born in Norwalk, Conn., Mr. Horton grew up in Europe, attending schools in Switzerland and Belgium. He returned to the United States to attend the Loomis Chaffee prep school, and graduated from Vassar College, with a degree in English. This passionate journalist was an avid reader, with interests in theater, sports, and politics. He spent his retirement taking joy in his house and gardens, his family and friends, his dog, and in watching the wildlife that inhabited his cherished marsh.

He is survived by his sisters, Hilary Douglass Horton, of Corinth, Vt., and Lydia Stuart Horton, of Amesbury, Mass.; his brother, Christopher Wells Horton, of Portland, Maine; his sister-in-law, Jo Ann Van Reenen, of Portland; and his brother-in-law, Charles Otto, of Orford.