Barbara (Barry) Pogue

SALISBURY — Barbara (Barry) Pogue, 85, died on Dec. 28, 2017.

Born on May 16, 1932, in Boston, Mass., she was the daughter of the late Margaret (Mullins) and Walter Barry

Salisbury has lost a dedicated Christian, loving wife, mother and grandmother. She excelled as an activist, feminist, town stalwart, humorist and irrepressible joker. 

Early in her life she impressed her friends and teachers with her exceptional intelligence and grace. She completed her formal studies in French literature at Laval University in Quebec. She held many positions teaching Spanish, French and Latin, including a brief stint in the Region One School District, 18 years at Salisbury School and two at Berkshire School. While at Salisbury, she was inducted into the school’s honorary society, Cum Laude, its first woman inductee. For many years, she served as a family literary instructor at the Astor Home for Children.

In the 1960s, while in New York City, she served at the UN as secretary for the representative to the Vatican’s Holy See Mission, represented the National Council for Catholic Women and also served on the boards of the National Association of Laymen and the Manhattan Catholic Interracial Council. 

She was a Girl Scout and Brownie leader and read to children at a neighboring orphanage. During this period she traveled to Washington to participate with Martin Luther King in the Clergy Concerned About Vietnam protest. 

After moving to Salisbury she was active in local peace movements.

Her involvement in town affairs included the presidency of the Housatonic Day Care Center, Scoville Memorial Library board, service on the board of the Housatonic Center for Mental Health, a founding member of EXTRAS, secretary of the Zoning Board of Appeals, president of the Democratic Town Committee and president of the Salisbury chapter of OWLS (which became known as the Corner Food Pantry) and secretary of the local National Organization for Women. She was currently serving on the board of the Salisbury Housing Committee and the Salisbury Refugee Resettlement Committee.

An active reader, she joined with local book groups, where she and her friends shared fond memories and laughs. For many years, Barbara participated in the “Everybody Wins” program at Sharon Center School, where adults read stories with children. She also enjoyed writing, especially poems, some of which appeared in The Lakeville Journal. In the 1970s, she produced several articles for the paper’s Spring Tonic editions. 

She was an ardent rooter for the UConn Lady Huskies basketball team and excelled at crossword puzzles.

A faithful member of the former St. Mary’s Church, she was a major player in the church’s latest renovation, a lector and a member of the choir and served on the hospital committee. This past spring she and her husband were awarded the St. Joseph Medal of Appreciation in Hartford.

Besides her husband, John, of 57 years, she leaves her remaining brother, Walter of Auburn, Mass.; two sons, Kevin of Bennington, Vt., and Brian of New Marlborough, Mass.; her grandsons, Justin and Derick of Pownal, Vt.; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. 

In lieu of a funeral service, a celebration of her life will be offered in the spring. 

Donations may be made to the Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance Squad and the Corner Food Pantry.

Arrangements are under the care of the Kenny Funeral Home in Sharon.