Barbara R Punch

Born at home on Nye Road in Falmouth on Cape Cod, Mrs. Punch graduated from Lawrence High School in 1947. She was the editor of the Lawrence High School paper, The Student Intelligencer.

She attended Boston University, studying journalism. Her career took her from work as an engineering typist for the N.Y. Telephone Company to work in journalism as a reporter for Women’s Wear Daily and The Paramus (NJ) Post. Her first full-time reporting post was with The Bergen (NJ) Record where she landed an interview with President Truman’s daughter, the author, Margaret before joining Newsday where she worked as restaurant critic and food editor. Mrs. Punch interviewed Julia Child and dined with Salvador Dali. Rene Verdon, the White House chef for the Kennedy family, came to dinner at her home.

Her first marriage, to William H. Rader, ended in divorce.

She was married to Thomas Punch in 1979 and the Punches lived in Martin County, Florida until his death in 2014.

Mrs. Punch is survived by her daughters, Nancy R. Dhurjaty and her husband Sreeram Dhurjaty of Rochester, N.Y., Amy Rader-Sabina and her husband, Edward Sabina of Falmouth. Other survivors include her step-children, Thomas J. Punch of Rice, VA, Kevin Punch of Kapolei, HI, Carole Manuwa, her husband, James Manuwa of Honolulu, Michael Punch of Leesburg, VA, Jean Conkey Dulac and her husband, Richard Dulac of Mendon, MA, and Richard C. Punch of Naples, FL.

She also leaves grandchildren, Hari Dhurjaty, Anil Dhurjaty, Heather Lemay, Michael Conkey, Amanda Conkey Rogers, Samantha Conkey, and Joshua Punch. There are also three great grandsons, Paxton and Finnegan Rogers and Henry J. Dhurjaty.

A private service and burial are planned for June in Sherborn, MA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation, P.O. Box 515, Northampton, MA 01061 (Macular.org).