Obituary of Barbara Frances (Weisse) Weaver
Barbara Frances (Weisse) Weaver, Thompson, CT
Barbara Weaver, 83, died on December 26, 2010, of complications associated with Central Nervous System Lyme Disease. Born in Boston, MA, on August 29, 1927, her parents were Leo F. Weisse and Nina M. (Durham) Weisse. She leaves her daughter, Valerie Clark, son-in-law Dave Clark, and grandson Jesse Clark, all of Thompson, CT. She also leaves a sister, Janet Bennett of Boonton, NJ, as well as seven nieces and nephews. She was pre-deceased by her husband, George Weaver, as well as by a brother, Leo Weisse.
Barbara graduated from Jeanne D'Arc Academy in 1945 and later earned a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Radcliffe College. She also held a Master's Degree in Library Science from the University of Rhode Island, and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Education from Boston University.
In the course of her career, Barbara worked as a photographer at Edgerton, Germanhauser, and Greer (EG&G), working directly for "Doc" Edgerton. She participated in the photography of the atomic bomb testing on the Manhattan Project. She also worked for PhotoSwitch, a division of the Electronics Corporation of America.
Barbara married George Briggs Weaver, Jr. in 1951. During their marriage, she and George built and operated the 1st purpose-built private road race course in America, the Thompson Raceway. Over the course of the track's lifetime, the Weavers established a reputation for providing a combination of challenge, safety, and hospitality for competitors and guests from around the world.
Barbara and George were members of the SCCA (Sports Car Club of America). She and he remain honorary members of the Vintage Sports Car Club of America and are considered pioneers of sports car racing.
Barbara was a pilot, a gourmet cook, a sports car enthusiast, an avid knitter (including work with Kaffe Fassett intarsia patterns), as well as a NY Times puzzler. She loved traveling worldwide and eventually visited every state in the US, and nearly every continent on the planet. She was an open space advocate who enjoyed the beach and the sun and loved swimming. In her later years, she was a pioneer for aging in place, living in her own home until the end of her life.
Barbara's later career was in library services working as Head of the Thompson Public Library, Director of Library Services for the Connecticut State Library System where she established the Interlibrary Loan System, Assistant Head of the Central Massachusetts Regional Library System in Worcester, MA, Instructor at Simmons College, State Librarian for the State of New Jersey and State Librarian for the State of Rhode Island. She was the State of Rhode Island's first Chief Information Officer and a member of the Governor's Cabinet.
Barbara was also a Council member at the International Motor Racing Research Library in Watkins Glen, NY, a member of the Thompson Historical Society Board of Directors where she helped create the beautiful Ellen Larned Memorial Museum housed in the original Thompson Library Building, and where she headed work on the East Thompson section of the Echoes of Thompson Volume I history book. She also was on the Board of Directors of the Rhode Island Historical Society, a member of the National Association of State Chief Information Officers, President of the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies from 1986-1988, a member of the Council of State Library Agencies in the Northeast, on the Board of Directors of the Northeast Document Conservation Center, Chair of the American Library Association ASCLA State Library Agency Section and the Legislative Committee, Editorial Board Member for " The Bottom Line: A Financial Magazine for Libraries", and held the elected position of Library Director for the Thompson Library. She was one of the original members of the Thompson Together Environmental Group and held many other volunteer positions throughout her career.
She was awarded many significant recognitions including REIMA's Presidential Award in 1998 for outstanding library service, COLA Sweetheart of the Year in 1997, University of Rhode Island GSLIS Distinguished Alumni Award, Trenton YWCA Women in Industry & Government Award, Common Cause of Rhode Island State Governing Board Award and the WHCLIST Bessie B. Moore Award. As well, Barbara had many publications to her credit.
A memorial reception, in celebration of Barbara's life, will be held on Saturday, January 15, 2011, from 1:00-5:00 PM at the Inn at Woodstock Hill, Woodstock, CT.
Please omit flowers. For those wishing to contribute in Barbara's memory:
International Lyme & Associated Diseases Society (ILADS), PO Box 341461, Bethesda, Maryland 20827-1461
Email: contact@ilads.org (http://ilads.org )
Thompson Public Library, 934 Riverside Drive (Route 12), North Grosvenordale, CT 06255, http://thompsonpubliclibrary.org/
The International Motor Racing Research Center at Watkins Glen, 610 S. Decatur Street, Watkins Glen, NY 14891-1613
Send an e-mail to: research@racingarchives.org http://racingarchives.org/