Obituary of Barbara Harrington

Barbara Harrington, long-time resident of Darien, passed away at her home on August 8TH, surrounded by her family. Mrs. Harrington was born May 9, 1923 in Detroit, Michigan to Donald and Mary Virginia Anderson. She spent her childhood in Tucson, Arizona and San Diego, California before attending San Diego State University and the University of California, Berkeley, graduating with a degree in education. She taught teacher education at Mills College in California, and continued her career in Lanai, Hawaii, where she met and married her husband, Jerome Harrington. In 1969, she initiated, directed and taught the first program for education of the gifted in Darien, now known as The Idea Program. Throughout her life, she remained an active supporter of education- focused programs, including her involvement in the Darien Advocates for Education of the Gifted (DAEG). The Barbara Harrington Fund, established by DAEG in 1984 to honor her many contributions, provides grants to teachers to enrich students� classroom experiences in all fields. Mrs. Harrington also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Science Education Center (SEC), an organization focused on advancing interest and success in science and mathematics for students and teachers. In addition, Mrs. Harrington was a current member of the Education Committee of the Representative Town Meeting. Serving as a trustee of the Darien Library and chairman of a Red Cross Fund Drive were other strong commitments. In the eyes of her family, Mrs. Harrington was a chic, spirited, tenacious, compassionate lady who opened the world to them through her creativity and travel adventures. Her love of life and those around her was an inspiration to all who knew her. Mrs. Harrington is survived by her three daughters and their families, Betsy Harrington, her husband Nasir Hasan, and daughters Jenna and Nicola Hasan; Kathy Hartman, her husband Fred, and children Frederick, Ashley and Krysten Hartman; and Joan Harrington, her husband Dave Light, and children Samantha, Danielle and Jay Fuchs. She was predeceased by her husband, Jerome Francis Harrington, in 2008. A family memorial service will be held on the West Coast. Expressions of sympathy may be made in Mrs. Harrington's memory to the Barbara Harrington Fund of the Darien Advocates for Education of the Gifted, P. O. Box 2127, Darien, CT 06820, the Science Education Center in Old Greenwich, CT, and Guide Dogs for The Blind in San Rafael, CA. Funeral Home: Edward Lawrence Funeral Home 2119 Post Road Darien, CT USA 06820