Barbara Jane Tifford

TIFFORD, BARBARA JANE, 62, died New Year's Day from complications of lung cancer after a five year battle against the disease. She was born in the Bronx, New York, on May 10, 1943, educated in New York and moved to Miami-Dade County in April, 1971 with her husband, Arthur W. Tifford, a veteran and prominent Miami attorney. She is survived by her husband, daughters Melissa Beth Libow and Alexandra Lynn Tifford, son-in-law Allen H. Libow, Esq., grandsons Gabriel Jacob Libow and Daniel Eric Libow, and her brother, Steven Rich. Her sister, Julie Ann Nahmias predeceased her. Mrs. Tifford graduated from the City University of New York, Queens College with a bachelor's degree in education and began teaching in the New York City School System before doing so in Lawrence, New York, Newport, Rhode Island and Miami-Dade County. She last taught with great acclaim at the Beth Am Day School before beginning a new direction in her career, developing programs and businesses aimed at social improvements first in Miami-Dade County and subsequently nationwide. Mrs. Tifford was long involved in social improvements in Miami-Dade County, often working quietly behind the scenes and always avoiding publicity. She co- founded and was an original board member of the Miami Youth Museum, now known as the Miami Children's Museum at its new location on Watson Island. She was a member of the executive team of the Miami Heat Basketball Team, helping to secure the team's franchise. At her insistence and with her design the team initiated its corporate sponsorship of free tickets for inner city youths. Her most recent achievement, Suited for Success, Inc., a non-profit, was her self-described crown jewel. During its ten year history thus far, Suited for Success assisted more than 12,000 economically deprived woman and men in this community become more job competitive and was adding to its curriculum a health and wellness program also developed by Mrs. Tifford. Suited for Success became the model for others nationwide. She was in the midst of a fund raising drive for the new program at the time of her death. Despite her efforts to shun publicity, Barbara's efforts became widely recognized nonetheless. She and her partner, Sonia Jacobson, were awarded the Florida Governor's Award for Outstanding Accomplishments in Community Service in 1997. She also was recognized by the City University of New York, Queens College, as one of its top 100 Quiet Achievers over a 25 year period in 2003. She was seated beside laureates during the award ceremony. Diagnosed with lung cancer five years ago last month, Mrs. Tifford turned her energies and determination to assisting others in similar medical circumstances. Somewhat known as an artist and for her poetry, she was asked by Harvard- Beth Israel-Deaconess Medical Center, associated with Harvard University, to publish her poetry and art work as part of its Celebration of Life 10th, 11th and 12th Annuals in 2003, 2004 and 2005. Mt. Sinai Medical Center, Miami Beach, invited her to speak at its recent Lung Cancer Survivor's Dinner Event and to include her poetry and display her artwork. Mrs. Tifford was an active member of Painting in the Garden at Miami's Fairchild Tropical Gardens and a long term member of Temple Beth Am in Kendall. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to lung cancer research at Harvard-Beth Israel- Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, attention Lowell Schnipper, M.D., Chairman, and Mt. Sinai Oncology Center, Miami Beach, attention Rogerio Lilenbaum, M.D. Funeral Services will be held at the Temple Beth Am Sanctuary, 5950 No. Kendall Drive, Miami, Florida, on Wednesday, January 4th, 2006 at 1:00 PM. To visit this Guest Book Online, go to www.herald.com/obituaries.