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Bari Watkins Obituary
LANCASTER: Bari Jane Watkins, 64, of Lancaster, Ohio passed away Saturday, April 2nd, 2011, after almost two years of treatments for pancreatic cancer. She died at Pickering House hospice with her husband by her side.
Bari was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania to Elizabeth and Harold Watkins. She married Bill Steinman in October of 1995.
Bari Watkins earned her bachelor's degree at Rice University and her M.A. of Philosophy and Ph.D. at Yale University.
She began her career in the History Department at Northwestern University, where she also founded the Women's Studies program and served as director of a research center on women's issues.
She then spent more than 20 years in academic administration as dean of the faculty and chief academic officer at three liberal arts colleges and as Dean of the Ohio University Lancaster Campus.
In her years in administration, she published and presented primarily on innovation in the undergraduate core curriculum and on the impact of feminist research on the academic disciplines, often at national meetings of the American Association of Colleges and Universities.
She participated in the Harvard University Institute for Educational Management in 1996. She served on the board and as Chair of the American Conference of Academic Deans. Her research interests were in food history and food studies in twentieth century America.
She recently returned to full-time classroom teaching, where she taught American social and cultural history, American women's history, and American colonial history on the Ohio University Lancaster Campus.
Bari is survived by her spouse, Bill Steinman; stepson, Will Steinman of Los Angeles; brother-in-law, Rick Steinman of Chicago; sister-in-law, Kate Carter of Columbus; cousin, Jerry Wnuck of D.C.; her dear friend, Molly Moon of Maine; and her best friend in all of the world, Gordon Braden of Charlottesville, VA.
A memorial service will be held at 4:00 p.m. on April 8th at the St. Luke Episcopal Church in Granville, Ohio. Father Stephen Applegate and the Reverend David Pattee will officiate. A simple coffee reception will follow. There will be no visitation or graveside service.
No flowers please, but donations can be made in her memory to: The Lustgarten Foundation, 1111 Stewart Avenue, Bethpage, New York 11714
http://www.lustgarten.org/
There is a link on the home page to make it easy to donate specifically to pancreatic cancer research.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Bari Watkins
Sponsored by Bill Steinman, loving husband.
Lois Kalloway
January 20, 2020
I first met Bafi in the 1970s at Northwestern. She was
a mentor, friend, and inspiration. Our condolences to Bill and all who share in her loss.
Lois Kalloway
Debra Vinikour
June 12, 2012
Today, during a walk down memory lane, I was thinking about Bari, who was my favorite professor at Northwestern many years ago; she was a significant influence and a wonderful mentor. I am so shocked and sorry to learn that she's gone. I just wanted to let you know how much she meant to me - and no doubt to many, many students at Northwestern and subsequent stops in her great career.
Jeff Johnson
March 29, 2012
I have only just now learned of Bari's death from the Rice alumni magazine. Although we were never really friends and I had not seen her since our graduation in 1969, it was still a shock. She was the smartest person in our History 100 discussion section my first semester at Rice, and ultimately she became one of the key leaders of our class, particularly in our senior year, at a critical time in the development of the university. I am glad to know that she was able to accomplish so much and touch so many in her career, but I am saddened to learn that her life was cut short.
April 22, 2011
Bill, Having been out of town, we were not aware of Bari's passing until today. We are grief stricken with the news as we had so much admiration for her, we know she will be missed by so many. Our prayers are with you at this difficult time. Sandy and Dieter Heren
Bob and Vonda Speakman
April 21, 2011
Bill, It is difficult to put into words the loss of such a beautiful and lovely lady. Her strength and ability to handle her crisis was so admirable. She took each day for what it was and made the best of it for herself and others.
I know your heart is heavy but the wonderful memories are many. May God be with you.
Vonda and Bob Speakman (Lancaster)
Ray Michalski
April 7, 2011
Bari was an intelligent and determined individual who used her abilities with full intent to improve every community she lived and worked in. Her passing is a shocking loss.
April 6, 2011
When Bari was Dean of the College at Rollins in Winter Park, FL, she asked that I work in the Dean's office as her Associate. I was young and a bit at sea, and she became a great mentor, bringing idealism, pragmatism, and kindness to the job. I will miss her very much.
Tim Yocum, Orlando, Florida
Ellen Thimmes
April 6, 2011
Thinking of you all, Bari was one of my favorite customers, always smiling and happy.
Ellen Thimmes, Lancaster Greenhouse
Bruce McAtee
April 6, 2011
Bill and her family & friends:
Bari was an orginial. Her enthusiasm was contagious and her democratic ideals were inspiring. For the last year, I know that Bari was dealing with her diease and the ultimate price it took.
Our hearts and prayers go out to you. For Bari, it was not how she died by how she lived. She made a difference and that always counts in the theme of things.
We are thankful for her talents and the short time that she spent with us.
Bruce and Nancy McAtee Lancaster, Ohio
Bill Stevens
April 6, 2011
Dear Bill, I am so very sorry for your loss. I will never forget Bari's kindness and support. She was always a pleasure to be with. May you find comfort in memories and the love of family and friends, God bless.
April 6, 2011
Dear Bill, Our thoughts are with you. I've thought of you two often, and so sad to hear now that you have lost her. She was a very special lady!
Yours, Pam and Al Mickelson
Charlotte Owens
April 5, 2011
Oh, Bill, I am so sorry. She was such an amazing person, so warm, so good at including people. In my first encounter with her, I noticed and appreciated how she could mentor or expand people's view of what they can do, all in a casual, encouraging, warm way. She was remarkable.
Jennie Woodruff
April 5, 2011
Bill, my thoughts and prayers are with you. I worked w/ Bari through the Chamber of Commerce and enjoyed every moment of it. She will be dearly missed.
Leslie Davenport/Buffalo Wild Wings
April 5, 2011
I knew Bari as the vibrant, friendly, warm, faithful customer who came in almost every Saturday at Buffalo Wild Wings with her husband and played trivia and ate her favorite wings and beverage. She was a master at that trivia....she always had a smile on her face and she was adored by myself and other servers. I enjoyed every conversation with her. I was so saddened to hear of her passing. Our sympathy and prayers go out to her family. She will be deeply missed.
Cathy Bitler
April 5, 2011
Bill, my thoughts are with you at this most difficult time. I treasure my memories of Bari. In the relatively few years she spent in Lancaster she made a tremendous impact on the lives of many. She will be mised.
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