SALISBURY — Barbara Mary Nicholls, a longtime Salisbury resident and formerly of New York City, died in Boston on March 14, 2019. She was with her daughter and son-in-law.
She was born in England in 1939, to Margaret (Shanks) and Harry Nicholls. In 1946, the family moved back to Australia, the birthplace of her parents. They lived in Melbourne until moving again to Larchmont, N.Y., in 1960. Barbara attended Rye Country Day School and Mount Holyoke College.
Barbara began her career at The New Yorker magazine after a winter spent skiing in Aspen, Colo. Becoming an assistant to Jim Geraghty, art editor, she grew to know well the artists and writers of the magazine who, in turn, welcomed Barbara into their world of wit and words.
After 17 years Barbara started her own gallery on Madison Avenue representing New Yorker artists including Charles Addams, Charles Saxon, Peter Arno, William Steig, George Price, James Stevenson and Frank Modell among many others. Known as an expert in the field, Barbara curated many retrospectives of New Yorker art as well as consulting on many books and research projects about the magazine and its art.
Barbara’s love of skiing and adventure took her around the world and up and down many mountains. It was the hills of the Northwest Corner that drew her to Salisbury and the people that kept her here. Barbara often quoted Sam Walter Foss’ poem, “The House By the Side of the Road”: “Let me live in a house by the side of the road and be a friend to man.”
True to this, Barbara worked to support her neighbors in Salisbury and beyond, often without their knowing. A dedicated board member of the Corner Food Pantry (formerly OWL’s Kitchen) she grew to know and care for the families and individuals who passed through. Her work on the Salisbury Beautification Committee often found her planting pansies in spring snowstorms.
Her “cottage” business, Nicholls Knits, gave her an opportunity to create her own art after years of representing artists and there are many children who have been warmed by her hand-knit hats, sweaters, pants and socks.
Barbara is survived by her daughter, Serena, her son-in-in law Spencer Taylor, and her beloved grandchildren, Hazel and Wyeth; her twin brother, Ian Nicholls; and her sister, Judith Landrigan.
A memorial service will be held at Barbara’s house this coming summer.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Corner Food Pantry, P.O. Box 705, Lakeville, CT 06039.
Justine and Victor Valla in their studio with a painting of Victor’s,”Jonah and the Whale.” Robin Roraback 
A ceramic vase by Kathleen Heidemann.Provided 
Joy Brown’s delightful ceramic sculptures.Provided 
