Barbara Anton

Barbara O'Reilly Anton, 70, of Fripp Island, SC, passed away, peacefully at home, on July 28, 2025, after a brief illness.

Born in Utica, NY, on April 9, 1955, Barb was the second oldest of four sisters and the beloved daughter of the late Thomas F. and Anne Brown O'Reilly. She grew up in South Utica and graduated from Utica Catholic Academy in 1973. Barb continued her education at Cazenovia College (1975) and Buffalo State University (1977), later earning her Master's in Education from Syracuse University.

Barb dedicated her entire career to advocating for individuals with disabilities. She worked at the Herkimer County ARC after college and then moved to Syracuse and became the Director of the Monarch Training Program at the Onondaga County ARC. After moving to Connecticut, Barb worked, for many years, as the Supervisor of Community Experience Programs at The Kennedy Center in Trumbull.

On September 16, 2000, Barb married Kenneth Anton. Together, they shared a love of traveling, their cherished cats, countless friendships and, always, a good glass of wine. In 2019, Barb and Ken moved from their longtime home in Fairfield, CT, and fulfilled their dream of retiring to beautiful Fripp Island, SC.

Barb quickly became an active and beloved member of the Fripp Island community. She served on the Fripp Island Roads and Bridges Committee, held the role of President of both the Fripp Island Community Center and the Sawgrass Bluff Property Owners Association and was a member of the Loggerhead Patrol, where she joyfully helped rescue baby sea turtles.

Barb is survived by her devoted husband, Ken; her siblings and their spouses, Elizabeth Chesarone (Allan), of Waban, MA and Mary Leffel (Thomas), of Weston, CT; brother-in-law, Kevin Anton (Irene), of Dandridge, TN and her nieces and nephews, with whom she shared a special bond, Colleen Dankers (Christian), Melissa Cataldo (James), Allan J. Chesarone (Maria), Sarah Leffel Britton (Alex), Katherine Leffel, Lucy Leffel, Kevin Anton Jr. (Christina) and Stephen Anton (Adam). She was also the proud great-aunt of Charlotte and Nathaniel Souza, James, Thomas and Fiona Cataldo, Riley Chesarone and Koan and Kora Anton. Barb is also survived by her lifelong best friend, Kim Rudolph and Kim's family, who fondly called her "Aunt Barbie", as well as her very special Fripp Island friend, Irene O'Neill.

She was predeceased by her younger sister, Sarah O'Reilly.

Memorial services for Barb will be held on Fripp Island at the Community Center on October 4, at 2 p.m., and in Utica at Temple Emanu-El on November 15, at 1 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, contributions, in Barbara's memory, may be made to Fripp Island Community Center, 205 Tarpon Blvd., St. Helena, SC.