Obituary of Barbara R. Cantrill

Age 83, passed away peacefully at home. Barbara is survived by her husband of 62 years, James E. Cantrill. She was predeceased by parents, Leo and Margaret Russell, her sister Susan Russell and her brother Francis Russell. Barbara is also survived by children: Cecilia Kalish( Paul), Clare van den Blink (Arie), Susan Yanofsky (Neal), Laura Cantrill, James R. Cantrill (Eileen), and Maura Bollinger (Martin), grandchildren: Margaret Jones (Juan), Elizabeth Brockett (Daniel), Emily van den Blink, Michael Kalish (Lara), Lisa Yanofsky (Jakob), Daniel Kalish (Rebecca), David Yanofsky, Prudence O'Neill, Quinn Cantrill, James Bollinger, Delaney Cantrill, Libby Bollinger, Patience and Canute Hawkins, great grandchildren: Alexander Clarke, Clara Jones, Bridget Gelman; brother: Howard Russell. Barbara, a Boston native, was a graduate of Mount Saint Joseph Academy, received a BA from Goddard College and a masters in public administration from Suffolk University. Barbara's passion was politics, negotiation and helping people. She had a lengthy career in social services administration, politics, and government. In the early 1960's, Barbara and her husband were part of the movement to racially integrate Kentucky to end segregation, working with all levels of government. Barbara was one of the founding officers of the Congress of Racial Equality in the Northern Kentucky chapter - leading picketing at KY businesses that led to integration by 1961. She worked as a consultant on many local, state, and national political campaigns. In 1988, Barbara worked as a high-level consultant for Gov. Michael Dukakis' presidential campaign. In 1972, she ran as a convention delegate for Shirley Chisholm, first African American presidential candidate. A politician herself, she was elected to the Princeton NJ township council. Barbara worked ten years on the staff of three New Jersey State Senate Presidents, and was the first women to serve as the executive director of the NJ Senate Joint Appropriations Committee. Her career also included working as a social worker, teacher, director of regional Family Health Services (MA), executive director of Battered Women's Shelter (NJ), and the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill(MA). In the early 1970's, she was the co-host of a local cable television show discussing current affairs and politics. In her later years, she was a beloved substitute teacher in Groton MA. Barbara led an active career of advocacy and social justice, but being a mother and grandmother was the most important to her. Family and friends are invited to McInerny Funeral Home, 502 W. Water Street, Elmira, on Sunday, January 20, 2019 from 2:00 p.m. to 400 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, January 21 at 10:00 am at Our Lady of Lourdes in Elmira, with burial following the Mass. Those wishing to remember Barbara may make a donation to Catholic Charities of Chemung & Schuyler Counties, 215 East Church Street, Elmira, NY 14901.