Bio

Barbara played field hockey, basketball and squash during her years at Wellesley, but it was the Golf that earned her recognition and induction into the Wellesley Athletics Hall of Fame. In 1951 Barbara was the National Intercollegiate Golf Champion following a second place finish in the same event the previous year. Barbara won the New York State Amateur Association Golf Championship in 1951, ’52 & ’54. Also in 1954, Barbara won the Ladies Golf Invitational participating in New York State and Canada, and more importantly the traditional Hoop Rolling Race at Wellesley College! Following graduation from Wellesley, Barbara continued to play golf and from 1954 through the late 60’s won more than 15 championships at the Local, State and National levels, setting many course records along the way.

I really didn’t want to go to Wellesley but my parents insisted. And so I knew that was it. I wasn’t worried about the academic side, but I wanted a co-ed school and more sports. However, I know, and knew quite a while ago, that it was the place for me. It gave me the strength, courage, and ability to deal with the life I chose, and also the curiosity for traveling and accepting challenges and taking on new things.

My first year I lived in Homestead, a freshman dorm, where I met many friends I am still close to today. One of Wellesley’s legacies to me has been the many wonderful, long-term friendships with women I made there. Not only have we stayed in touch, I have been in the same travel group with many Wellesley women on many trips abroad with Dick Wallace. As recently as the mid-1990s I have still been learning from Wellesley staff on these marvelous trips. I have made deep friendships with younger Wellesley graduates and these trips have been a wonderful way to meet women from different classes and eras. 

As a new freshman it was great to be away from home, and Wellesley gave me the support I needed to feel comfortable and to excel in that setting. At that time I had planned to be a science major so my studies dominated my interest and my time. Those days we did not leave campus much, which allowed us to focus on the riches at hand. Our biggest trips off campus were to “the Vil” for ice cream! I also learned to play bridge, and we always had a pickup game after dinner (this continued all the way through Wellesley). I took golf as my sport requirement the spring of my freshman year. I remember my instructor was not very happy with me as fellow students often came to me for advice rather than seek hers! I lived across the road from the golf course, and used to play quite a bit with Anne Gaynor. 

Since Wellesley did not participate in intercollegiate activities, it was very difficult for me to get the college to sign my entry for the National Inter-Collegiate. After much pressure, they finally acquiesced and signed the paper so I could participate as a student from Wellesley College. l was not asking them to endorse or support me in any way. I just wanted the competitive experience. The first thing I was asked by my fellow competitors was “What do you do at college?” I looked at them in amazement and replied “I study.” They found this odd since most of them had been playing the winter circuit rather than taking a serious course load. I could tell when I told them I spent my winters studying that they were no longer worried about competing with me as a golfer—they were wrong! Much to my amazement I won the championship, and as I was being congratulated after the final match, a woman came out of the crowd and looked at me and shook my hand and said “Barbara, what a wonderful representative you are of the College! I will have to get in touch with Wellesley to let them know.” I was stunned. 

As I have gone through life I carry with me and have tried to actively demonstrate our motto, “Non ministrari, sed ministrare”, “Not to be ministered unto, but to minister.” I am deeply grateful for the many opportunities and memories that are an ongoing part of my Wellesley experience. To formally have the recognition from the College validates and celebrates the very important and substantial role competitive golf and other sports have played in my life, including having met my amazing husband.