Barbara Chesley Fleming

Barbara Chesley Fleming, 62, a resident of Acton for the past 30 years, died Friday, July 30, 2010, at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. She was the beloved wife of 37 years of Jonathan R. Fleming. She was a native of Rahway, N.J. and the daughter of the late Dr. Henry and Rosaline Grzybek Chesley. Mrs. Fleming's early years were spent in Rahway and Clark, N.J. She was a graduate of Emmanuel College in Boston, class of 1970, with a B.A. in biochemistry. She met her future husband, Jonathan, at the wedding of mutual friends. Following their marriage, the couple lived at M.I.T. while Mr. Fleming continued his studies, then they moved to Belmont where their son, Ethan, was born. A research scientist early in her career, she was also the former Director of Human Resources at Repligen Corporation in Cambridge. She continued in the corporate human resources field with her own consulting firms, most recently as Co-President of Catalyst Consulting Group of Lexington with her partner, Lauri Vinick, of Brookline, specializing in management consulting and organizational development. Mrs. Fleming enjoyed gardening, cooking, knitting, and especially loved cats including her own Feynman, Sorcia, Polly and Rosie. She is survived by her husband, Jonathan, of Acton; their son, Ethan, of Brighton; her aunt, Tillie Ratynski, of Peabody; two brothers, Carl Chesley and his wife, Lois, of Virginia and Paul Chesley of New Jersey; and two nephews and their families, Bruce Chesley, his wife Julie, and their daughters Abbey and Alex; and Daryl Chesley, his wife, Kate, and their sons, William and Luke, and a daughter, Sidney. She is also survived by a number of cousins and other relatives. A memorial service was held Thursday, August 5, at 3 p.m. at the Emmanuel College Chapel, 400 The Fenway, Boston. Please omit flowers. Memorial contributions may be made to the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, either 7 Feldberg -- earmark for patient comfort Attention: Christine Garabedian; or BIDMC: attention Dr. David Avigan Research Fund. On-line guest book at Legacy.com.