BARBIKAY POHL

BARBIKAY POHL Barbikay B. Bissell Pohl, Ph.D., of Paradise Valley, Ariz., and Las Vegas, passed away peacefully Aug. 27, 2016, surrounded by her family, three weeks before her 75th birthday. Barbikay was born in Chicago, the only child of Spencer Bissell and Viola (nee Karnebogen) Bissell. They moved to Billings, Mont., when Barbikay was six months old and soon after to Santa Barbara, Calif., after her father came home one particularly cold Montana night and said, "We're moving some place warm!" The family eventually relocated to Tucson, Ariz., the year before Barbikay graduated high school at age 16. Barbikay excelled academically and was an accomplished clarinetist. She earned a bachelor's degree in business from the University of Arizona as well as a master's in finance and a Ph.D. in education from Arizona State University. It was in ASU's doctoral program where she met fellow student Norval. Over the ensuing 38 years, Barbikay and Norval had rewarding careers in higher education, Barbikay as a professor and Norval as a dean, vice president, president, and chancellor. Their career took them to Prescott, the Bay Area; Phoenix, Flagstaff, Ariz., Las Vegas, and Denton, Texas, and then back to Prescott. During her "retirement" following Norval's passing in 2009, Barbikay obtained certification as a Montessori instructor. When she wasn't teaching, Barbikay was a soccer coach, hockey scheduler, classroom coordinator, scout leader, PTA leader, KNPR Las Vegas volunteer and counselor to her sons and their friends. She was recognized for her commitment to public education in the Las Vegas area, particularly Green Valley High School in Henderson. Barbikay was also an animal lover (over eight dogs and three cats), church usher, university first lady, and Daughter of the American Revolution. Up to her passing, Barbikay was a volunteer at Mayo Clinic and was involved with her grandchildren's education at Villa Montessori and All Saints' Episcopal Day School in Phoenix. Barbikay had the good fortune to split time residing with her sons and to develop incredible relationships with her grandsons. Barbikay's family remembers her as an engaged, devoted, no nonsense and selfless mother and grandmother. Barbikay's life was shaped in part by several health challenges and blessings, and she was most grateful for the excellent care she received for the past 25 years from Mayo Clinic in Minnesota and Arizona. She received a liver transplant in 1997 and a kidney transplant in 2013, and she was eternally grateful for the gifts of life afforded her by the unknown organ donors. She also battled cancer the past three years. Throughout it all, Barbikay remained vital, positive, thankful, strong and brave as she aspired to project God's love through herself as His window. Barbikay lived by the mantra that adorned her refrigerator, tough times never last, but tough people do. She was preceded in death by her husband, of 38 years, Norval. She is survived by her son, Prescott; daughter-in-law, Nancy (nee Casbeer); her son, Chandler; and her four grandsons, Tennessee Norval, Prescott Rockwood Bissell, Humphreys Pease Casbeer and Elden King Chandler. Memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at Valley Presbyterian Church, 6947 E. McDonald Drive, Paradise Valley, AZ 85253. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial gifts be designated to Transplant Research at Mayo Clinic, Department of Development, 13400 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale, AZ 85259, or made through mayoclinlic.org Above all, the family implores everyone to be an organ donor.