Barbara Anne Knight

Barbara Ann Knight passed away on Friday, April 1, 2016 in Sandwich, MA.

Barbara Mader Knight was born in Ridgway, PA on September 28, 1928. Little did we know that we had a trailblazer on our hands! Barbara graduated from Chatham College, Pittsburgh, PA in 1950 with a degree in History. She joined the U.S. Navy and was commissioned as an Ensign in January 1953. During her naval career, she served in San Francisco, CA and Newport, RI until 1956 when she left active duty. Barbara remained in the Naval Reserve until her retirement in 1979 with the rank of Captain. She was the recipient of the National Defense Service Medal and the Reserve Service Medal.

CAPT Knight was a career and professional social worker and served in that capacity with the Girl Scouts, the American Red Cross, and the San Diego County California Welfare Department. She obtained her Master's Degree in Social Work from the University of Southern California in 1970.

Barbara relocated to Texas where she worked for USAA, a Fortune 500 insurance/financial services company for the military in San Antonio, TX for 11 years. During her time with USAA, she was their first director of affirmative action and EEO counseling -- programs that continue to this day.

Barbara has been a part-time resident of Sandwich since 1983 and a full-time resident since 1995. She has actively served as a trustee of the Sandwich Glass Museum and has served as the representative of women in the military in several Memorial Day celebrations in her adopted home of Sandwich. She was an active purveyor of Sandwich history which she happily passed onto visitors and tourists alike!

During her retirement, Barbara traveled extensively managing to visit all 50 states and their capitals. She also visited all continents and almost 60 countries -- falling short of this goal by only three! These travels also included three missions to Honduras.

She was a member of the Reserve Officer's Association; Red Hat Ladies Club; the Sandwich Library Book Club; the MOAA; Navy League; Waves National; the Cape Cod Chorale and served on the Board of Directors for subsidized housing. She enjoyed the theater and adored music traveling with the Cape Cod Chorale to assorted international countries. Her faith played a prominent role in her daily life and she served as a Lector, Altar Server, a Eucharistic Minister, a member of various choirs in several Cape Cod parishes.

Barbara is predeceased by her long term friend and companion CAPT Marie B. Kelleher, USN Retired; her brother William C. Mader and sister-in-law Barbara Birkenmeyer Mader of Warren, PA; and survived by her niece - Mary Mader Scott (David) and nephew - William Martin Mader (Pam); a great niece Lindsay Vaccaro of Tampa, FL and grand nephew William Russell Mader of Oakland, CA, two great grand nephews (Frankie and Zane) of Tampa, FL and a host of wonderful and treasured friends.

Thanks are extended to all who did so much to enhance her life and fill it with joy, friendship, faith and adventure!

Her funeral will be held on Friday, April 8th, 2016 at Christ the King Parish 3 Jobs Fishing Road Mashpee, MA at 12 noon. Visitation prior to the funeral mass at the church 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Interment at the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne, MA. In lieu of flowers, Barbara would like donations to be made to the Cape Cod Chorale, P.O. Box 751, Sandwich, MA.