Salzberger, Barbara

Barbara Ann Salzberger passed away on January 5th of 2023 at the age of 94. Loving wife of Emil Salzberger for 56 years before he passed in 2013, they spent most of their lives in the Massachusetts-Connecticut area, until the siren song of Florida took hold. Born in Boston to Anna and Lawrence Wilson, Barbara grew up during the Great Depression and World War II learning to value the small victories, good government and how she could contribute personally to the community. She worked for the federal government at Westover AFB and later as part of OSHA to improve the safety and working conditions for men and women around New England. While raising their two children, Mark and Diane, Barbara was a long-term member of the League of Women Voters. She and the LWV worked to earn Connecticut's ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment in 1972 and carry that success across the nation. Barbara was interested in politics, staying informed both locally and nationally. Through the LWV and locally, she promoted community engagement working on elections, debates and town initiatives. She acted as a docent at the historical Kellogg-Eddy House in Newington and served Meals-on-Wheels, as well as transporting disabled children during this period. Barbara was a smart woman, and savvy when it came to personal and business dealings which complemented her husband Emil's strengths. But because she had so many interests, she was always in the middle of something which inevitably led to her being fashionably late...sometimes not even fashionably. After her OSHA retirement, given the developing sense of political stagnation and rising national debt, Barbara and Emil became volunteers for the 3rd Party Ross Perot campaigns while residing in North Fort Myers, FL. Long time members of the Unitarian Society of Hartford, Barbara and Emil became devoted participants in the new All Faiths Unitarian Congregation in Fort Myers. When she was not manning voting centers or keeping up to date with town/church events, Barbara was a life-long health advocate, particularly in the field of nutrition. She was the embodiment of one of her favorite magazines, Prevention, sometimes to the chagrin of her two children. In her later years Barbara was fortunate to have been primarily cared for by her daughter's family and friends in Middletown, Connecticut, all of whom were exceptionally welltrained for this and compassionate people. Barbara leaves behind her daughter Diane Reid, her husband Par, grandchildren Jude with partner Cricket, and Carolyn. Barbara's eldest son Mark and wife Ann reside in Pennsylvania, and three grandchildren live across the country: Kyle with wife Simone and (Barbara's great-grandchild) Serena, Cameron with wife Jennifer, and Rory with partner Gabrielle. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, February 11 in the Small Chapel with interment of the ashes of Barbara and Emil in the Memorial Garden (weather permitting) at the Unitarian Meeting House in Hartford.