Barbara Clemons, 62
Special Education Teacher
Alton-----Barbara L. Clemons, 62, a bilingual special education teacher, died Sunday, September 19, 2010 from cancer, at the home of her brother, Jim Clemons, in Alton, New Hampshire.
Ms. Clemons was a dedicated educator, committed to helping children with special needs whose academic and social development were further complicated by an environment where two languages were spoken. After receiving a Bachelor of Science and a Master’s Degree from Northeastern University, she received a Doctor of Education Degree in Applied Bilingual Psycholinguistics from Boston University in 1989.
Ms. Clemons had taught at the Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School for 20 years when she retired in 2008. She was also an occasional instructor at Leslie College in Cambridge.
As her love for children and special education grew, so did her commitment to the Portuguese community of Cambridge, and her appreciation for the importance of both language and culture in learning. In 1984, she began studying in Europe, completing formal programs in Portugal at the University of the Azores, Coimbra, Lisbon, Evora and Aveiro. She also received a diploma from Ke Contre, the Haitian Creole Summer Institute.
Ms. Clemons had received numerous grants and awards from the United States Government, the Government of Portugal, the University of California at Santa Barbara, and Northeastern University.
She was a former member of Cambridge School Volunteers, the Board of Directors of the Castle School, Cambridge, and a former chairperson of the Bilingual Special Education Committee of the Massachusetts State Advisory Board to Special Education.
Ms. Clemons had an avid interest in aviation and was a prominent member of SkyDive New England. She routinely participated in parachuting activities, completing numerous jumps in the United States and internationally.
Ms. Clemons leaves her father, James Clemons, Sr. of Bartlett, his wife, Janet, and their two sons, Doug and Dana Clemons; a half brother, Frank Chandler of Bowdoinham, Maine; an aunt and uncle, George and Ginny Lewis of Vermont and nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her mother and stepfather, Lorraine and Ralph Berry, of Rangeley, Maine and her half brother, David Chandler, of Lewiston, Maine.
At Barbara’s request there will be no services.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to Community Health & Hospice, Inc., 780 N. Main Street, Laconia, N.H. 03246.
“Soar high girlfriend!”
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N. H. is in charge of the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com.