Cusack, Barbara J. (Haslam) of Needham, January 4, 2023. Barbara was born on March 30, 1935 in New York City. While she experienced the tragic loss of a parent, she did lead a Manhattan childhood only seen in grainy black and whites today - summers on fire escapes with Central Park as her playground. She was the first in her family to attend high school and college, graduating from Washington Irving HS and Hunter College. After college she met Donald and left New York for Boston. While her dreams and threats of returning to Manhattan were never realized, she did remain a quiet Yankees fan in enemy territory. After a stint in Boston, Donald and Barbara migrated to the ‘burbs of Needham, where they raised Brian (Michele; Morgan and Liam), Helen (Steve; Andrew and Elizabeth, Harry, Cole and Gabe) and Sheila (Gerry; Charlotte, Patrick and Michael.) That’s 9 grandchildren in addition to two great grandchildren, Rosalyn and Audrey, with whom she was able to spend Christmas Day. Barbara and Don traveled throughout the US and Canada taking the scenic route via Amtrak, Don needed to feel terra firma. Over more than 60 years, she attended thousands of track meets, hockey games, art shows, dance recitals, Take Your Grandparent to School Days, Take Your Parent to Work Days, plays, road races and graduations and lacrosse games. After Donald passed away, Barbara doubled down on community and service giving her time generously to Needham’s Community Council, The Library and The Senior Center in addition to delivering meals, in many cases to those in need younger than her. Barbara also made sure the Admissions Dept at St. Sebastian’s accepted a qualified class every year in her role as envelope stuffer and brochure folder. Barbara was now able to take flight and traveled afar with her children. She loved to lunch with her circle of ladies who provided welcomed social contact and activity during the pandemic and for years before that. Barbara was a talented artist, working primarily in pencil, colored pencil and watercolor and her works were displayed at the Needham Arts Association and garnered stunning bids at the Star of the Sea Art Auction in Marblehead. Barbara was a voracious reader of mystery novels and viewer of BBC suspense series (on DVD). The Library has lost one of its most frequent borrowers. She did all of this actively up until the last month or two of her life. She loved to summer with her family in Kennebunkport, Mattapoisett and Marblehead. She was a giving neighbor with a smile for everyone she passed on her power-walks.
A funeral Mass will be held in St. Bartholomew Church, 1180 Greendale Ave. Needham on Tuesday, January 10, at 10am. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Interment private. In her memory, if you are interested and able, please donate to the Needham Free Public Library or The Dana Farber Cancer Institute, or to your favorite charity.