Barbara Cook GILBERT

GILBERT, Barbara Cook
Barbara Cook Gilbert, 89, passed away peacefully in Farmington on June 26, 2012. Born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, she was the daughter of Clarence C. Cook and Nell Helgerson Cook. She resided in Bloomfield for nearly 60 years before moving to the Gables in Farmington. Barbara graduated from the Chaffee School in Windsor, CT, and attended Wellesley College in MA. Highly competitive, Barbara built a reputation as a top-producing realtor in the Farmington Valley while at the Heritage Group and Westledge Associates. She later enjoyed a second exciting career with her daughter, Brooke Mallory, buying antique furniture and accessories throughout England and retailing them through their store, The Broken Shell Gallery, in Canton. Perhaps she can attribute her long life not only to her vigorous Norwegian heritage, but also to her eager anticipation of life's next adventure anywhere. She had an indomitable zest for life. Barbara loved her family, world travel, theater, music, entertaining her friends and associates, flowers, Giants Neck Beach, and her home in the Florida Keys. As an avid reader, she was a member of the Minerva Book Club, and orchestrated book sales for several organizations including the Wellesley Alumnae Association. She thoroughly enjoyed her memberships at the Town & County Club in Hartford and the Red Hat Society in Key West, Florida. She was a long-time member of the Granby Tennis Club, the Bloomfield Racquet Club, and joined the Hartford Tennis Club soon after turning 80. She thrived on table games as well, particularly bridge and Rummikub. Earlier this year, she made the Gable's Wii Bowling Travel Team, and recently scored a perfect 300! Her enduring love for dogs paralleled few. She is survived by her four children, Brooke Mallory of Avon, Earle E. Gilbert (Peb) of Simsbury, Amanda Shelburne of Gansevoort, NY, and Kristin Adams of Roswell, GA, as well as six grandchildren, Benjamin Mallory, Megan Mallory, Kate Shelburne, Jordan Shelburne, Ian Adams, Caleb Adams and two great-grand children, Hayden and Quinn Mallory.
A celebration of her life and burial will be held at the convenience of her family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mostly Mutts, 2774 North Cobb Parkway, Suite 109-189, Kennesaw, GA 30152, http://www.mostlymutts.org/ or the Best Friends Animal Society, 5001 Angel Canyon Road, Kanab, Utah 84741-5000, http://www.bestfriends.org/index.htm.