Barbara O’Hare Shaw Memorial Page

Donations to Bobbie Shaw’s fund will be forwarded to the Aspen Hill Chapter.

Please note, no PayPal account is required to donate online: e-checks and credit cards are welcome.

A message from Bobbie’s Daughter, Mary Beth Rich:

“My mother, Barbara Shaw, known as “Bobbie” to everyone, truly thought of the Aspen Hill Library as her second home.  She treated the patrons, the volunteers and the librarians as family.  She worked at the library as long as we can remember, and it all began by sorting books.

My mother began her volunteer career at the library sorting books from the book drop and doing whatever was needed.  She eventually became an integral part of the children’s library program, assisting the librarian by organizing the room, running the projector and cutting-cutting literally thousands of animals, leaves, and shapes throughout the years and folding an equal amount of booklets so that the librarian could run a fun and fulfilling story time.  Those shapes followed her wherever she went, whether on vacation, visits to the grandchildren, etc., so that they would be ready to go when needed!

Eventually, mom became an active member of the Friends of the Library.  She worked tirelessly with the library, volunteers and local politicians in order to fundraise for the needs and wants of the library.  Anyone who knew her could tell you she fought like a tiger to make sure the funds that were raised stayed and were used only by the library she loved so much.

My mom served proudly as the president of the Friends for many years; and all of her time, energy and efforts were recognized.   She was honored as Volunteer of the Year, and we traveled to Annapolis to see her receive her award from the then Lt. Gov.  Kathleen Kennedy Townsend.  It was an unexpected honor that meant the world to her.

The Annual Community Festival was also a big part of her work at the library.  She felt it was important to give the neighborhood and the patrons a day of entertainment, diversity and just plain fun with no agendas or politics attached.  She strived to make the yearly event special and appreciated all the work that everyone performed to make it such a success.

All of our annual family trips were definitely planned around the annual book sales.  That week would be marked on her calendar and the rest of the world stopped for the week leading up to the sale so she could spend it side by side with her friends/volunteers sorting and stacking in preparation. She loved every minute of it and always searched for a great recipe for baked goods for the accompanying bake sale by the Friends.  I can remember it had to be different, but not too different, and had to bring a good but fair price.  She always looked forward to this sale because she always bought many goodies that everyone else made, and I know that was her favorite part of the event!

My favorite memory of her time at the library was when she brought home the bear.  My mom always walked the short block from her house to the library; and one day, she brought home the much-beloved giant bear from the children’ s section-a “smooshed”, split-seamed, stuffing-spilling-out-of-it bear walking down the sidewalk of Aspen Hill Road with two human legs sticking out from beneath.  It caused quite a stir, and I believe my father may have driven her and the bear back to the library after the repairs.

The Aspen Hill Library and The Friends of the Library were an important part of my mom’s life. She made life-long friends at the library, working side by side with them over the years; and they meant so much to her. She brought my father along for the ride as he repaired or built anything she asked of him for the library.  She felt it was important; and she worked hard to give the patrons, especially the children, a place to learn, to read, to grow and to love as much as she did.

We will all miss her.”