Barbara Baker-Bury

1944 - 2018

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. - Barbara Baker-Bury died on April 8 at home in Brattleboro, surrounded by family. She had bravely faced her sudden cancer diagnosis, which evolved with stunning speed. She was deeply appreciative of the outpouring of gifts and messages she received from many who knew and loved her, and the devoted care of her partner Mark Kilgallon and her daughters and sisters.
Barbara was born on Oct. 9, 1944, in Englewood, NJ, the oldest daughter of Katharine and Julian Scholl. She adored her early years at Dwight School, and kept in touch with many classmates all her life. She described her childhood as idyllic, filled with close family, gardens, music, dance and sports, especially tennis.
In 1966 Barbara graduated from Denison University and married college sweetheart Tom Baker. They had two beloved daughters, Lindsay and Cary, and lived and worked in private schools in Maryland, Atlanta and New Jersey. In the late '70s Barbara moved with her daughters to Brattleboro and David Bury came into her life. She began singing with the Blanche Moyse Chorale in the early '80s and sang with Blanche for over 25 years,. The friendship she and David shared with Blanche and the extraordinary musical experiences and friendships she had with the chorale were intensely meaningful to her.
In 1992 Barbara earned a Masters in Counseling Psychology from Lesley College and began a career she was dedicated to for the rest of her life. She worked for HCRS as a school-based mental health clinician in the White River Junction area for many years and was highly respected for her warm relationships with children. Barbara was also much loved by her many adult clients. In 2002 she began working with a mental health agency in Greenfield, and there she met fellow therapist Mark Kilgallon, who became her treasured companion.
Barbara was an avid gardener. Few things in life brought her more gratification than time spent outside planting, puttering and dreaming up elaborate landscape designs. She worked tirelessly to convert the small, awkward piece of land that surrounded her home into an exquisite garden oasis.
In her mid-fifties Barbara discovered a passion for abstract painting in art classes at the River Gallery School with Barbara Campman. A new world of color and design began to pour out of her with ease and great delight, resulting in hundreds of joyful oil paintings and watercolors. Her work was exhibited several times at the Latchis Theater, The Edgewater Gallery, and the Crowell Library.
Barbara passionately loved life and above all she loved her family. She will be deeply missed by her partner Mark and his family, daughters Lindsay Agne and Cary Baker, sons-in-law Rob Agne and Gamble Staempfli and four grandchildren, sisters Sally Hedberg and Virginia Scholl and husband Ken Pick, nieces and nephews Hannah and Jascha Pick and Amy and Tyler Hedberg, and the many friends and clients whose lives she touched.
Contributions in her memory can be made to the Blanche Moyse Chorale, 72 Blanche Moyse Way, Brattleboro, VT 05301, or the River Gallery School, 32 Main St., Brattleboro, VT 05301
A celebration of her life will take place on May 6 at 2 PM at Currier Hall, Putney School, Putney, VT.