Barbara Lindsey, 80

April 24, 2024

Barbara Lindsey, 80, of Lancaster, PA, passed away from dementia at Willow Valley Communities on April 24, 2024, with her children by her side. Barbara relocated to Lancaster in 2016 after spending most of her adult life in Poughkeepsie, NY.

Barbara earned several degrees and certifications that equipped her for a life of service and leadership. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts from Bucknell University followed by a Master of Arts from Boston University, both in English. Years later, she earned a Master of Professional Studies in Humanistic Education from SUNY New Paltz and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Social Justice Education from UMass Amherst.

Throughout her career, Barbara made a significant impact in social services and education. Some of her notable positions include serving as transitional housing manager and counselor at Grace Smith House, a shelter for victims of domestic violence; adjunct lecturer in women’s studies and humanistic education at SUNY New Paltz; and interim executive director of the Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val-Kill. She was recognized as the Domestic Violence Awareness Month Honoree in 2003 and received the Public Citizen of the Year award from the Mid-Hudson Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers in 1999. Additionally, she was honored at the YWCA Salute to Women and Industry event in 1988. She previously held roles in admissions and financial aid at Briarcliff College and as an English teacher at Reading High School.

Barbara was deeply committed to social action and community services. She served on the boards of directors for Grace Smith House, Hudson River Playback Theatre, and the Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. Additionally, she played pivotal roles in Dutchess County Partners of the Americas, attended the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, and was actively involved in clubs and organizations focused on environmental conservation and advocacy, domestic violence awareness, women’s rights, and political action. These included the Poughkeepsie Farm Project, Hudson River Housing, Women in Black, and Willow Valley Dems Plus. She participated in the Lifetime Learning Institute, the New Paltz Community Chorale, the Willow Valley Chorale, the Adirondack Mountain Club, and the Mid-Hudson Sierra Club; she volunteered for the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater Fallkill River Project; and she even once ran for local office.

Barbara enjoyed the great outdoors in the Hudson Valley and beyond, hiking, canoeing, and cross-country skiing. She loved cooking for and visiting with a wide range of friends and family, and she loved travel, especially when it involved cultural exchange. A voracious reader, she read fiction and nonfiction on widely ranging topics.

Barbara leaves behind a legacy of love and service, cherished by her daughter, Hannah Borgeson, of Manhattan, and son, Sam Borgeson, husband of Merrian, of Berkeley, CA. She adored her grandsons, Owen and Jack Borgeson, and is also survived by her nieces, Laura Robertson and Beth Winter, and her grand-niece and nephew, Lindsey and James Kiefer. Barbara was preceded in death by her sister, Alice Ann Robertson. Her marriage to Richard Borgeson ended in divorce.

The family would like to thank the team members working at the Glen at Willow Valley for their years of care and support, and Hospice and Community Care in these final weeks.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Grace Smith House, www.gracesmithhouse.org; Scenic Hudson, www.scenichudson.org/; or the Willow Valley Communities Charitable Foundation, foundation.willowvalleycommunities.org/.

Barbara’s interment was at Rest Haven Cemetery in Hagerstown, MD.

A Celebration of Life is planned for Monday, June 17, in Poughkeepsie at the Vassar Alumnae House for friends and loved ones to honor her memory and legacy of service. Details are available at https://tinyurl.com/BarbaraLindsey. Those who plan to attend are kindly asked to RSVP at that link.