Sad News, Barbara Hirsch has Died Nov 14, 2008On November 14, we all lost Barbara Hirsch, beloved wife and best friend and trusted advisor of Morris, proud and loving mother to Sarah Hirsch, of Middletown, and grandmother to Ryan Hirsch, and "babba" to Alexander and Maureen Hirsch, all of Bethlehem PA. Barbara caught a cold, and went to bed to sleep it away, as all of us have done many times. It got worse instead of better, and she died. If only knowing better could bring her back. Barbara was only 53. As we all mourn our loss, please think of her loss of all the years still to come, to watch and share the lives of Sarah and Ryan. Morris and Barbara met at a contradance, and brought Sarah to her first dance when one day old. When Sarah Hirsch ran the Newport County Contradance, it was Barbara's enthusiasm and joy at welcoming and helping beginners, that grew a one time school event into a two year community series. For all those who knew Barbara only from dancing, I want to tell you another wonderful side. Every year all through Sarah's teens there was a yearly canoe outing with a bunch of kids mostly girls, and parents mostly mothers, and canoes owned, borrowed, and rented. They would study the maps and pick a river in western Rhode Island. It was an overnight and some years a day trip was also done. There are many photos of kids in canoes, and jumping off a tire swing into a river swimming spot, then later sitting around a camp fire toasting marshmallows. Then the birthday party sleepovers, from elementary right through high school, and the tie dye shirt parties, coloring Easter eggs, making Christmas tree ornaments, a celebration for every season. Many will remember her as the Story Witch at the Aquidneck School Halloween parties, and a dedicated parent volunteer at countless events over the years. Barbara was above all a caregiver. From working with pre-schoolers to working with home-bound seniors, taking care of her family, and the family pets, and even the many family plants, Barbara noticed when anything was wrong, and made it right. We respectfuly ask that in lieu of flowers, her friends donate in her name to the Potter League for Animals, in Middletown. Both Sarah and Morris would like to hear from friends, our emails are shown below. There will be visiting hours Sunday Nov 23, at 2 to 4 PM at Memorial Funeral Home on Broadway in Newport RI, then more visiting back home. Please try to come. There will be a Memorial Contra Dance in December, details still to be arranged. Please don't let Barbara's works die with her!
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Town of Middletown: Aquidneck School |
Coming from the North, take Mass / RI Route 24 South from Fall River,
then continue South on RI 138 East Main Road into Middletown.
Turn left onto 138A Aquidneck Avenue,
continue South through a traffic light,
then down a hill ALMOST to the traffic light at the bottom,
where it meets RI 214 Valley Road.
The school is on your left.
Take a very sharp left JUST BEFORE the traffic light to get to the school and parking.
Coming from the West, take RI 138 over the Newport Bridge,
use the second exit ramp, which continues RI 138.
Turn left getting off the exit, go up hill straight through one set of lights,
to another set of lights at the top of the hill.
This is One Mile Corner,
where Admiral Kalbfus Road narrows and turns into Miantonomi.
Most traffic turns left or right here,
and 138 turns left here,
but you go straight through.
Heading East,
going between a Domino's pizza and Sunoco gas station, onto Miantonomi.
(Miantonomi will become Green End after three more blocks.)
Go down hill to a traffic light at the bottom,
turn right onto RI 214 Valley Road.
At the next traffic light,
go left onto RI 138A Aquidneck Avenue,
then IMMEDIATELY bear right onto Reservoir,
to get to the school and parking.
