Barbara Elaine Finkelstein - Schlossberg Chapel

Dr. Barbara Elaine Finkelstein passed away on July 13th at the age of 69 from Interstitial Lung Disease.
As a young child Barbara always knew she wanted to be an educator, she had a great thirst for knowledge and especially history. She would listen for hours to stories her grandfather told her of the battles he fought in during WWI. Throughout her life she was an avid reader and teacher of history.
Barbara was a graduate of the Girls Latin School and held a bachelor’s degree from Boston State College, a master’s degree from New York University, and a Ph.D. from Capella University. She fulfilled her dream of being a college professor in 1978 when she began work at Massasoit Community College in Brockton, MA. Over the years Barbara held various leadership positions including V.P. of Faculty and Administration. She retired in 2014 from Massasoit to begin a new chapter in her life as president of York County Community College (YCCC) in Wells, Maine.
While at YCCC Barbara oversaw a major $2.9 million capital campaign that helped build the Pratt & Whitney Building on the Wells, Maine campus and played a key role in securing funding for the purchase of the Sanford Instructional Site, giving the Precision Machining Technology program and others like it a permanent home in Sanford, Maine. Additionally, the College expanded academic offerings under her leadership adding programs in Veterinary Technology, Animal Care and Management and Gerontology.
She always put the needs of students first, making sure anyone who wanted it had access to a flexible and affordable education to achieve their goals and realize their dreams. To help facilitate this she added new scheduling options which included seven-week and two-week terms and personally donated funds to start the College’s first Student Emergency Assistance Fund.
In 2012, she was honored with the Phi Theta Kappa Distinguished College Administrator Hallmark Award.
Barbara married the love of her life Jim in 1980 and the two of them settled in Franklin, MA in 1981. She is survived by her husband Jim, her sisters Doreen and Harriet, brother Steven and her beloved dog Dixie.

Graveside service will be held on Sunday, July 18, 2021, at 11:45 am at Sharon Memorial Park, 40 Dedham Street, Sharon, MA 02067.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Animal Welfare Society, https://animalwelfaresociety.org/ in Kennebunk, Maine, or the Wounded Warrior Project, https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/

Condolences(13)

Kathleen Berry says
July 15, 2021 at 6:02 pm

So very to hear of Barbara’s passing. She was one of my first professors at Massasoit. Rest well.
Susan (Murgo) Hall says
July 15, 2021 at 7:05 pm

To Jim and Barbara’s brother and sisters, I am so sorry to hear about Barbara’s passing. Barbara was a very kind and patient mentor to me, and her generosity was limitless. Also, she had the ability to handle many different kinds of situations, and I learned a great deal from her.

On behalf of the Murgo, Hall, and Thorner families, please accept our deepest condolences.
Mary Campbell says
July 15, 2021 at 10:56 pm

To Jim, and family, our deepest sympathy to all of you. Barbara, was my advisor @ mccc @ the beginning of her career. She was an incredible woman, that did over and above with each student.
Barbara hired my husbandDavid Campbell as dean. She had a great report with him. She was loved by everyone, and will be missed. Love to you Jim.
Sheila Kearns says
July 15, 2021 at 11:08 pm

Jim and Family, Barbara was not only a long-time colleague, but also one of my husband and my master program professors; and both my husband and I’s thesis advisor. She was a wonderful lady who truly cared for her colleagues and most importantly, her students. She will be sorely missed.
Very Rev. John T. Bacon says
July 16, 2021 at 11:58 am

I am very sorry to hear of Barbara’s passing. She was one of the nicest people I ever met at Massasoit.

May her memory be a blessing.
Pattiann Daniels says
July 16, 2021 at 2:32 pm

Dear Jim and family,
I am very sorry to hear of Barbara’s passing. I met Barbara 23 years ago when I started working at Massasoit. She was a great mentor to me and truly caring person. She encouraged me to finish my degree and when I was walking across the stage on graduation day she stood from the platform, walked over to me and hugged me, and told me how proud she was of me. SHE was amazingly special to all the lives she touched.
Maureen McDonald says
July 16, 2021 at 3:52 pm

Dear Jim and family,

I am so sorry to hear of Barbara’s passing. I worked with Barbara at Massasoit as Chair of the nursing department. Barbara worked diligently to provide students with all of the support they needed to be successful. She was an amazing woman and educator. Often on her way home she would drop in to the classroom to say Hello to the evening nursing students. The students always loved seeing her smile. My prayers are with all of you at this time.
Juanita Janey says
July 16, 2021 at 5:32 pm

Dear Family:

VP Barbara, that what I use to call her. Barbara was the sweetest, loving person I have every had the chance to meet at Massasoit. Every time we saw each other I was either dancing in the hall or singing, Barbara would just smile her beautiful smile and said keep up the good work. I will cherished our little time together & when I graduated in 2002 that the my proudest moment with her. My condolence to you & your love ones. Keeping you in my prayers.
Mark Linde says
July 18, 2021 at 1:51 pm

Barbara was a wonderful person who helped everyone, especially students. She was a kind person with a big heart. She hired me many years ago as well as my father. I will miss her smile and kindness.
Giuditta Monterosso says
July 26, 2021 at 2:12 am

I am so sorry to hear about Barbara’s passing. She was a wonderful person who still took the time to stay in touch after she left Massasoit. My condolences to the entire family. She will be missed and we will keep her in our prayers.
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September 2, 2021 at 2:08 am

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Eward E Lyons and Caroleann Bready-Lyons says
November 27, 2021 at 1:01 am

So sorry to learning of Barbara’s passing. She was a lovely person. Edward and I worked with Barbara at Massasoit. She is a great loss.
Linda Coffey says
April 3, 2022 at 8:14 pm

Jim, Barbara’s dear husband –
I write this with a broken heart, after only finding out yesterday that your dear wife passed away this past July.

I reconnected with Barbara in 2019 when she graciously volunteered to join our Girls’ Latin School 50th Reunion Planning Committee. Though we both attended Boston State College, I do not recall being in any of Barbara’s classes. Like most of us attending a commuter college, we attended classes, worked part time jobs, & maybe had time ti participate in sports or other extracurricular activities, & we then we graduated. So it was my pleasure to reconnect with Barbara whom I had not seen since graduation (unless I saw her briefly at another Reunion.) We were GLS friends who ate lunch together & were in some HS classes together. Unfortunately, Covid sheltering -at -home kept me from seeing Barbara after our fantastic HS Reunion. We did stay in touch a bit through Facebook.

Barbara epitomized all the personal traits ingrained in us at GLS: hardwork, kindness, humility, respect, perseverance, & love of learning to name a few. Barbara was a kind & gentle woman & soul.

Please accept my deepest condolences. She touched so many people & will not be forgotten.
Sincerely – Linda Coffey

Barbara Elaine Finkelstein July 13, 2021

Date of Funeral

Condolences(13)

Kathleen Berry says

Susan (Murgo) Hall says

Mary Campbell says

Sheila Kearns says

Very Rev. John T. Bacon says

Pattiann Daniels says

Maureen McDonald says

Juanita Janey says

Mark Linde says

Giuditta Monterosso says

Facebook Marketing says

Eward E Lyons and Caroleann Bready-Lyons says

Linda Coffey says

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