Barbara Wickenden

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution announces with great sorrow the death November 7, 1994 of Human Resources Manager Barbara Wickenden at Falmouth Hospital of cancer. She was 49 years old.

Barbara was born in Wareham, MA, and raised in Marion, MA, where her father was headmaster at Tabor Academy. She attended Marion public schools and later Friends Academy in North Dartmouth, MA, and Dana Hall School in Wellesley, MA. She graduated from Hollins College in Roanoke, VA, with a bachelor’s degree in English in 1966, and went to work soon after at Little, Brown & Company Publishers in Boston, first as an editorial assistant in the children’s book division and later as executive secretary to the president of Little, Brown. In 1969 she joined the staff at Harvard University Graduate School of Education as administrative assistant to the Assistant Dean for Administration. Barbara’s skills in personnel issues led to a number of promotions and increasing responsibility for the school’s personnel needs, and in 1977 she was named Personnel Officer for the Office of Academic and Administrative Personnel. That same year she received a master’s degree in education from Harvard University.

Barbara left Harvard University in November 1984 to join the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution staff as Personnel Manager. Barbara participated on numerous Institution committees, helping to improve benefits, career paths for many staff members, and dealing with all facets of employee activities. Barbara, a “people person,” was often cited for her professional skills, her cooperation, support and helpful attitude on a variety of issues and concerns, her ability to listen and to remain cool under pressure, and to provide advice when needed.

She is survived by her mother, Nancy Wickenden, of Marion; two sisters, Jeanne Lake and Meredith Ryder, both of Marion; one brother, James, of Princeton, NJ; and many nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held Saturday, November 12, 1994 at 2:00 p.m. at Wickenden Chapel at Tabor Academy in Marion. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations in Barbara’s memory be made to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, c/o Development Office, Fenno House, WHOI, Woods Hole, MA 02543.

Directions to Tabor Academy: Take Route 195 West to exit 20. Bear right off the exit, then bear right again at the fork in the road, crossing over Route 6 onto Spring Street. Wickenden Chapel is on Spring Street, on the right. There is on-street parking and a small parking lot behind the chapel.