Barbara E. Buxbaum, 89

SHAFTSBURY, Vt. — Barbara Elizabeth Vail Buxbaum of Shaftsbury passed peacefully on February 7, 2018, surrounded by her loving family. 

Born on June 24, 1928, in Bennington, Vt., the daughter of Charles S. Vail and Coney Elizabeth Vail of North Bennington, Vt., she received her education and graduated in 1946 from the North Bennington High School and went on to get her degree in business from Southern Vermont College (St. Joseph). Her high school years were spent involved in all manor of clubs and activities. She was a well-known champion basketball player for all four high school years. She took great pride to have served on the class yearbook and in the office of principal Catherine Corcoran as well as dozens of other clubs. 

Following college graduation, she worked for Judge George Fienberg and in the office of Bennington College alumnae, where she knew many of the historic teachers and graduates. Her grandfather was brought from Germany to be the grounds garden designer for the Jennings Estate long before it was Bennington College. 

On August 18, 1951, she married her high school sweetheart, Sanford Buxbaum. They enjoyed a long and happy life together until his passing in 1991, which was several days after his election as side judge in Bennington. Barbara was offered the position by the governor but passed and later ran for the position on her own. 

Barbara was old school, in that she was totally involved in local charities, taught grade school basketball, served as a Girl Ccout leader and took on the leadership roll in dozens of charities and projects. She was a charter member of the North Bennington Fire Department Auxilary, serving as president and secretary raising funds to pay for the firehouse as well as serving the state and local democratic committees and the Shaftsbury Historical Society. Barb was elected as a justice of the peace for many years, marrying the first of Vermont’s legal same sex marriages. She loved her "girls" and they loved her! 

Barb was a lister for Shaftsbury and was admired by all who knew her. Barbara served as a trustee of the North Bennington Congregational Church, the Bennington Humaine Society and raised thousands with her "walk-n-wag"events. She served as first constable in Shaftsbury and was an elected board member of Lake Paren Recreations, raising money to pay for the building there along with her husband, who served as president. She served as her husband’s bookkeeper of the family-owned printing business, Dave's Press, as well as running Pandora's Box in her barn for many years. 

Barbara was always there to give a hand, bake a cake, donate funds or time or take care of elderly friends and family. She was a force to be admired. Her smile would light up the room. Her passing is the loss of another local hero and a pillar of her community, not to mention the best mother ever! They just don't make them like her anymore! 

She is survived by her son, David Buxbaum, and his wife April; her daughter Dorothy; and her dear grandson David. 

She was predeceased by her brother Charles and her sister Dorothy Anne. 

Funeral notice: Barb would love donations in her honor to Francis of Assisi Feral Cat Rescue, P.O. Box 496, Shaftsbury, VT 05262. A celebration of her life will be held Saturday, February 10, 2018, promptly at 11 a.m. at Hanson Walbridge & Shea Funeral Home, 213 West Main Street, Bennington, Vt. Interment will follow in Park Lawn Cemetery, where she will join her husband, Sanford.