Obituary: Barbara Jane Stott, 1936 - 2024

Barbara Jane Stott, 88, of Nantucket, Massachusetts, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, died at home on December 28, 2024, after a long illness. Born in Natick and raised in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, she was the only child of Norman and Esther Butters.

Barbara never lost the brilliance that led her to attend Middlebury College at the age of fifteen and graduate at nineteen. One of her first positions was as a special education teacher and den mother at the High Mowing School in southern New Hampshire. Most of her education career was spent as a junior high science teacher in the Nashua, New Hampshire school system, where she also met her beloved husband, Charles. Barbara ultimately served as president of the Nashua Teachers Union between 1980 and 1987, successfully negotiating numerous contracts that improved the lives of her fellow educators. Her effectiveness in that role led to her election as President of the New Hampshire Federation of Teachers.

After moving to the Chicago suburbs, Barbara taught in Cabrini-Green and then continued her service to her fellow educators by serving as the assistant to the president of the United Professionals of Illinois Local 4100, a statewide union representing higher education faculty and staff at Illinois universities, where she handled communications and other duties.

Upon moving to Nantucket in 2004, Barbara employed her skills as an interpreter at the Nantucket Whaling Museum, educating countless visitors about the island’s history. She became a lay scholar of Herman Melville’s Moby Dick, immersing herself in the text and in documents related to that period. Active in the community, she served multiple terms as co-secretary of the Nantucket Civic League and designed newsletters and websites for several Nantucket organizations.

An extraordinarily talented woman, Barbara engaged in arts and crafts throughout her life, including painting, jewelry and stained glass making, rug hooking, knitting, and graphic design. She generously shared her needlepoint and basket weaving with many friends and admirers, and her home warmly reflects her style and creativity.

Her artistry extended to her true passion: the breeding and showing of award-winning collies for 35 years. Her kennel, Elsinore Collies, produced 17 American Kennel Club champions, two of which became Winners’ Dog at Collie Club of America national shows. The collie world was the foundation for many lifelong friendships and also produced countless wonderful pets for the Stott home and others. Barbara always loved animals and the Stott home included horses, rabbits, and many cats at various times.

Barbara was the loving wife of Charles Stott for 56 years, and the mother of Jon Jay Stott who preceded her in death in 2001. In addition to her husband, she leaves behind son Sean Stott, daughter-in-law Lisa Clemmons Stott, and grandson Jon Ethan Stott.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Barbara’s name to the Nantucket Historical Association.