Barbara Gulian Sawyer

93 years, born August 16, 1933.

Barbara lived her life with optimism and grace. She lived a vital life right up to the end with her last adventure at The Cliff House just three weeks before her death. If it was a sunny day, it might be a trip to Kettle Cove to sit by the Rugosa’s with Italians; she loved it most because the parking was free and to watch the lobsters being hauled in. She loved a day at Scarborough Beach to dig your heals in with a great book, a spring ski day at Sugarloaf with lunch on the deck, a day aboard the Grand Banks with her husband Tom, Judy and Louie or cruising up the coast with John Robinson and gang.

Barbara was endlessly fascinated by life. Another history book, a gorgeous art book, another great cookbook or a historical novel. As a child she was a slow reader, but pushed herself with her books and newspapers. She became a competitive swimmer in high school; she once said it was the one thing she excelled in. She built rock walls at the Gilsland Farm House where she and Tom lived most of their life. There she tended her many gardens well into her later 80’s. Not to mention chasing the ground hogs away from her gardens! A strong lady.

Barbara and Tom had many adventures in the world. She loved researching the next adventure and planning the itinerary. And she especially loved creating travelogs of each adventure with photos and ephemera from the trips. Her children’s biggest worry is what to do with all these volumes! Judy and Barb recently made a collage from one of the books that reduced the volume by a smidgen. Just 55 volumes left.

She planned a ski trip for her kids. The thrill of skiing at Zermatt and later down to the challenging Chamonix’s Valley Blanche. We said, just don’t look down, Mom! A bit scary, but there was always the smell of lunch midway down. Barbara and Tom were there for the early days of skiing at Sugarloaf Mountain before the lifts; hiking in and skiing down the one trail, Winters Way.

Barbara was born August 16th, 1933 in Newark, NJ. Her family moved to Buxton, Maine and later to Beacon St in Portland.

Barbara is survived by her children, Judy Lake (Carson) Pawlet, VT and Andrew (Tisha) Falmouth and her adoring grandson’s Duncan, Morgan, Alden and Jack. I say adoring because they all were so sweet with their Gram. They dotted on her often, meeting her in Portsmouth, NH for her favorite meal breakfast.

She is the last child of the Gulian family. She was preceded by Pat Gulian, Judy Switzer, Bob Gulian and Marylou. Her parents were Dorothy Young and Grasse Gulian of Falmouth. Grasse’s family immigrated to the U.S. from Armenia in 1906; they saw tragedies building at that time.

Barb was a favorite Cub Scout leader, a member of the Falmouth Planning Commission, a board member of The Maine Audubon, volunteer at Katherine Morrill Day Nursery, The Woman’s Exchange, The United Way and helped bring the Volvo Tennis Tournament to Portland.

The family is grateful for her wonderful caregivers led by Zoe and prior by Ester. They meant the world to Barbara and were always up for her big adventures of lunch out, the breakfasts out or a trip to the farmers market or a movie. The caregivers directive— fun and getting Mom out of the house! We are also thank full for the end of life care at Maine Medical Center as well as a very short stint with Andwell Hospice. All she wanted was to get home to her sunroom to die as she wished. A lovely life was had.

Please plant a purple flower in memory of Mom. And try to make the world a kinder place.

There will be a Celebration of Life in the spring.