Barbara Morris Caspersen

1945 - 2017

Barbara Morris Caspersen

Hobe Sound, FL

Barbara Morris Caspersen, 71, of Hobe Sound, Florida and Weekapaug, Rhode Island died Saturday, November 19, 2016. Born February 27, 1945 to Eleanor May Morris and Samuel Wheeler Morris, Barbara was raised on Lundale Farm, a working dairy farm, in Pughtown, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Shipley School in 1963 and Wellesley College in 1967.



Barbara married the late Finn M. W. Caspersen in 1967. They raised their four boys-Finn, Erik, Samuel, and Andrew-on Westby Farm in Andover, New Jersey. While raising their children, Barbara earned her PhD in English Literature from Drew University. Her deep relationship with nature, forged by her childhood on Lundale Farm, her early school years at Kimberton Waldorf School, and her adulthood on Westby Farm, drove her desire to study the works of American and British Transcendentalists as well as the works of Willa Cather at Drew, where she studied under the scholar Merrill Skaggs.



Her love of the natural world was deepened by spending most of her seventy-two summers on Quonochontaug Pond in Westerly, Rhode Island. Early summer mornings, she could be found sculling on the pond. In addition to rowing, she loved

farming, gardening, running, swimming, sailing, and riding and driving horses, all pursuits which immersed her in the natural world. She found great joy sharing these activities with others.



Quick, focused, fun and with-it, she easily connected with people, loved conversation, and was known for her ability to gather and to keep up with countless friends and family.



Together, Finn and Barbara were devoted members of their communities in New Jersey, Rhode Island and Florida. An indefatigable volunteer, Barbara served many roles, including as a director of Newton Trust Company, as an advisor on the National Advisory Council of the United States Equestrian Team, as a trustee of The Weekapaug Foundation for Conservation, as a Director of the Watch Hill Yacht Club, and as a Director of the Hobe Sound Community Chest.



Education was a particular passion. She served on the boards of Hoosac School, Hilltop School, Shipley School, Peck School, Groton School, and Drew University. She was Vice Chair of the Groton board and chaired the boards of Hilltop School, Peck School, and Drew University. Additionally, she was a loyal volunteer for Wellesley College, Harvard University, and Princeton University.



She was a member of Christ Memorial Chapel in Hobe Sound, Florida and The Weekapaug Chapel in Westerly, Rhode Island.



Barbara was pre-deceased by her husband Finn in 2009. She is survived by her four sons, four daughters-in-law, thirteen grandchildren, and seven siblings.



Services were held at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Gladstone, New Jersey and Christ Memorial Chapel in Hobe Sound, Florida. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hobe Sound Community Chest, P.O. Box 511, Hobe Sound, Florida, 33455.