Barbara B Minckley

Dr. Barbara Minckley, 96, passed away peacefully in her home at Allegro in St. Augustine this week. Dr. Minckley was born in Boston, MA, but grew up in the north suburbs of Chicago, IL. She came from a musical and artistic family and played the French horn in high school and was an editor for the school newspaper. She graduated from high school in 1942 during World War II. Her family then moved to St. Louis, MO where she met, married and had 3 lovely girls, Alison, Barbara and Carrie. Some years later, she continued her education and on scholarships, she earned her bachelor’s degree, her master’s degree and graduated with a cum laude in Nursing from Stanford University. For her doctorate she graduated University of California, San Francisco, magna cum laude. She became one of the first nurse practitioners in the United States. She was elected to the American Academy of Nursing in 1974. Following years were spent in teaching and clinical research, as a Professor at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center, assisting in heart transplant research in conjunction with Stanford Medical School surgeons. As a Visiting Professor and nurse practitioner at Arizona State University she treated patients at the College of Nursing’s Vista del Camino Clinic. While in Arizona she began studying watercolor painting. She retired in 1993 from her last position as Chair of the Department of Nursing at California State University, Long Beach, and moved to St. Augustine where she continued watercolor painting with lessons from St. Augustine watercolor artist, Bill Leonard. Some of her paintings and mosaic art were shown at the St. Augustine Art Association, and at the University of Florida, Gainesville. She became a board member of the EMMA Concert Association and a member of the EMMA Guild. She also joined the Cathedral Basilica choir, and the Community chorus, singing alto. Barbara Minckley wrote publicity and press releases for both the Emma Concert Association and the St. Augustine orchestra. She also wrote grants for the orchestra. In her elder years, she attended her 50th high school reunion and reconnected with a lost high school romance, John Condit. Together in St. Augustine they spent 10 happy years playing duplicate bridge, playing in the St. Augustine orchestra, (he on viola and she on French horn), and singing in the community choir and the Cathedral choir. In 1996, Barbara Minckley became a volunteer disc jockey for classical music on WFCF Flagler College Radio at 88.5fm. Her show, “Midday Masterworks” was a regular feature on Thursdays from 11 am to 1 pm for the next 22 years. Of all her volunteer work in St. Augustine, WFCF 88.5fm was nearest and dearest to her heart. She is survived by her 3 daughters, Alison Ramsey of St. Augustine, Barbara “Robbie” Blake of Bronson, FL and Carrie Norgart and her husband, Max Norgart of World Golf Village; 7 grandchildren, Kristin Ramsey, Tobias Pardue, Nathan Pardue, Ruth Pardue, Melissa Norgart Hargrove, Bradley Norgart and Andrew Norgart and 13 great grandchildren. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, June 12th at Allegro Senior Living Center located at 1101 Plantation Island Drive S., St. Augustine, Florida 32080. Please call or text Alison at 407-221-7316 or Robbie at 352-486-6366 if planning to attend (count for chairs/refreshments). To honor her life and memory, in lieu of flowers, please send a contribution made out to “WFCF Flagler College Radio Fund”, and put Barbara Minckley Endowment on the lower memo line. Please mail to Flagler College, Institutional Advancement, 74 King St., St. Augustine, FL 32084. This will be a great blessing to her and to the community she cherished. St. Johns Family Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Barbara B Minckley

February 25, 1925 - May 11, 2021