Clarence A. Barnes III (“Trip”), 83, died at home in West Tisbury on Sept. 1, 2026, having lived all nine of his lives in his own way, leaving behind a legacy of generosity, ingenuity, friendship, many trucks, and a lifetime of stories that will be told on Martha’s Vineyard for generations to come.
Born in New York City in 1942, Trip grew up in Manhattan, spending his summers on Chappaquiddick, his happiest place. As a teenager, he decided the Vineyard was where he belonged. Rather than follow a traditional path, he built a life entirely his own, becoming one of the Island’s most recognizable and unforgettable characters.
Trip founded Clarence A. Barnes III Moving and Storage, building a business that became part of many people’s lives. His distinctive trucks and vehicles were familiar sights on Vineyard roads and far beyond. A natural entrepreneur and collector of just about anything with a story, Trip believed there was little that couldn’t be fixed, figured out, or put to good use. There are still converted green school buses living alternative lives out there, if you keep your eye out.
For decades, Trip supported countless organizations, lending his time, resources, and unmistakable personality to causes he believed in. As a charity auctioneer, he often persuaded friends and neighbors to give a little more than they had planned, usually with a laugh, occasionally followed by a cautionary letter about his choice of language, and always leaving everyone with a memorable experience.
One of his proudest accomplishments was helping establish Vineyard House, providing housing and support for those in recovery. Sober for 38 years, Trip believed deeply in second chances, and was known for offering opportunities to people when others might have turned away.
Trip served on numerous boards and organizations, including the Martha’s Vineyard Commission, the Agricultural Society, the Airport Commission, and his beloved Barnacle Club, among many others. To each, he brought his independent voice, creative problem-solving, and tremendous work ethic. In 2018, he received the Creative Living Award in recognition of his contributions to Island life.
Trip was outspoken, inventive, stubborn, and endlessly curious. He loved a good story, an unusual piece of machinery, a spirited debate, and most of all, the people who made Martha’s Vineyard home. Behind his colorful personality was a man whose generosity often happened quietly, without recognition or expectation.
Trip is survived by his partner, Joan Silva-Pretty; his sons, Clarence IV (Jamie) and Michael (Alecia); his daughter, Elizabeth (Michael); their mother, Judith Cronig; his grandsons, Henry, Ian, and Harrison; and his niece and nephew, Susan and Ernie Walker. Many have generously asked Trip’s family where donations might be made in his honor. Trip was passionate about serving his community in countless ways, from animal rescue and Island historical preservation to agriculture, recovery programs, eighth-grade fundraisers, and just about everything in between.
He was deeply grateful to Martha’s Vineyard Hospital for the excellent care he received over the years, and would happily tell anyone who would listen just how wonderful his doctors, nurses, and medical support teams were. At the end of his life, he benefited from the compassionate care of Martha’s Vineyard Hospice, an organization for which he had once helped raise significant funds.
The list of organizations and causes Trip supported goes on. In his honor, we hope that those who knew him will make a new effort, in some meaningful way, to help others or make something better.
Help someone, even when no one is watching. Speak out, and use your time and voice to make your part of the world better, even when it is inconvenient or difficult. Put in the extra energy and commitment it takes to build and sustain a truly wonderful Island community. And if you can, donate to a cause that moves you, so you can help move others.
A celebration of life and community potluck, a “Final Trip,” will be held on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2026, at 4 pm at the Agricultural Hall in West Tisbury. Family, friends, and members of the community are warmly invited to gather, share stories, and celebrate a man who was truly one of a kind.
Trip spent his life moving things, but he will be best remembered for the number of people he moved along the way.
