Barbara A. (Simonton) Lasher, 77, of Tolland, passed away Friday, July 15, 2016 at home surrounded by her loving family. She was born July 15, 1939 in Queens, NY, the daughter of the late Herbert and Marguerite (Coulter) Simonton. Barbara was a dedicated and passionate educator, teaching in NY and Tolland, CT. She continued her career as a principal in Mansfield, CT and then Westport, CT. In her retirement she was an Adjunct Professor at UCONN, where she focused on further enhancing their student teacher program. Barbara continued to work for the betterment of education in her retirement, serving on the Tolland Education Foundation. She enjoyed traveling, being at the beach, and was an avid gardener. Barbara’s true passion was spending time with her family and friends. Barbara had the ability to light up the room and make anyone she spoke to feel like they were the center of the universe and she will be deeply missed. She is survived by her daughter, Nancy (Lasher) Richmond and her husband Jon and their three children, Matthew, Corey, and Kalli, and her son, Todd Lasher, his wife Deborah and their three children, Emma, Devin, and Claire. She leaves behind her brother and sister-in-law, Douglas and Patricia Simonton and their children, as well as her sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Linda and John Canzoneri and their children, as well as several very close family friends. A Memorial Service will be held at 3 PM on Saturday, August 6, 2016 at the United Congregational Church of Tolland, 45 Tolland Green, Tolland, CT 06084. Burial will be private at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Gaylord Hospital Center for Brain Health, c/o Development Office, Gaylord Hospital, P.O. Box 400, Wallingford, CT 06492 or the Cure PSP, 30 East Padonia Rd., Suite 201, Timonium, MD 21093. For online condolences, please visit www.pietrasfuneralhome.com
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