Auburndale, MA – Teresa DeRiso Barton passed away peacefully surrounded by family on August 12, 2026. She was born June 1, 1941, in Springfield, MA to Mary and Louis DeRiso, who had emigrated from Italy in the 1930s. She attended Springfield, MA public schools and was Valedictorian of Classical High School's class of 1959. She graduated with honors in 1963 from Smith College with a BA in math. Later that year she married Henry Barton and moved with him to Cambridge, MA where she received a Master's Degree from Harvard University. She then embarked on a career teaching math at Beaver Country Day School, Minnechaug Regional High School, and Western New England College. After living in Springfield for over 60 years, she moved with her husband to Southampton, MA, where she was active in community affairs. Known throughout the town as the flower lady, Teresa managed three public gardens in the Southampton overseeing the planting of 600 plants each year. She served on a board of the Smith College Students' Aid Society and led tours at the Smith College Botanic Gardens. In 2018 she and her husband moved to Lasell Village in Newton, MA. Her greatest delight in her later years came from her five grandchildren. She is survived by her husband, Henry Barton, daughter Julie Barton, son Andrew Barton and grandchildren, Lydia Emerson, Isabel Emerson, Margaret Emerson, Ian Barton and Ella Barton as well as sisters Geraldine Noyes and Madeline Hughes and brother Michael DeRiso. A celebration of Teresa's life will be held at Lasell Village, 120 Seminary Avenue, Newton MA on October 3, 2026 at 10 am. A graveside gathering will be held at the Southampton Center Cemetery on Route 10 in Southampton, MA on October 4, 2026 at 11 am. Memorial contributions may be made to the Greater Boston Food Bank.
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Teresa D. Barton