Elaine Barber

Richard Barber
P.O. Box 887,
Kent, Connecticut 06757
[email protected]

Elaine Barber (71) of Kent, CT, a lover of animals, world traveler, accomplished cook, avid reader, known for her southern wit, charm, and spicy aphoristic language, died suddenly on July 17th.

She was born in Akron, Ohio, but grew up in South Pittsburgh and Nashville, Tennessee. She attended Vanderbilt University on an academic scholarship, but had to withdraw for financial reasons. After leaving Vandy she joined Equitable Securities helping do the underwriting research to take American Express public, and later ran their trading room.

Wanting to leave home she joined American Airlines as a flight attendant. She rose to executive positions in the flight attendants union, and attended the Cornell School of Law and Industrial and Labor Relations. As Vice President of APFA she represented 23,000 members in all conflict resolution and was a spokesperson for the union in labor negotiations with the American Airlines. She was a leader in the famous Thanksgiving Day strike, the first successful flight attendant strike against an airline that was settled in part by an intervention by President Clinton. She was a guest at the White House and became a member of the Women’s Leadership Council. APFA presented her with the Congresswoman Martha W. Griffiths’ Award for her service to the union and her fight against discrimination both against flight attendants and women, their highest honor.

In Kent she was a member of the Democratic Town Committee and a supporter of Women’s Support Services of Sharon, and Kent Cats, a rescue and adoption service, and a member of St. Andrew’s Parish. She was a proud associate member of The Players Club, The Blue Hill Troupe and The Publishers’ Publicity Founders, to whom she often loaned her husband. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to one of those organizations. She is survived by her husband of 39 years, Richard Barber, numerous nieces, nephews, two grandnieces, many godchildren, and two beloved rescue cats, Birdie and Andre.