HALL QUARRY, MOUNT DESERT – Barbara L. Ninfi, 96, died Friday, Dec. 4, 2009, at her home. Barbara Whiteman Leavitt was born Feb. 11, 1913, in Amagansett, Long Island, N.Y., daughter of the Rev. Horace H. and Louise Bartlett Whiteman Leavitt. She graduated from Shore Road Academy, Bay Ridge, N.Y., as valedictorian of her class at the age of 16. She attended Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, Mass., and graduated magna cum laude from the University of Hawaii in 1933. After several years working for Time/Life, Inc., New York City, she returned to Honolulu, in 1937. On Nov. 16, 1938, she married Charles W. Lucas Jr. of Honolulu, where their daughter, Deborah Hind Lucas, was born the next year. Their son, David Leavitt Lucas was born in December 1943 in Mount Desert, while Barbara spent the World War II years in Mount Desert, where she had spent every summer of her life. Charles was serving with the U.S. Merchant Marine. The family returned to Hawaii after Charles completed his graduate work at Harvard Business School, Cambridge, Mass. The marriage ended in divorce and Barbara returned to Mount Desert with her children in 1946 and began a 55-year career as a paralegal for the law offices of Hale and Hamlin and Blaisdell & Blaisdell, Ellsworth. Barbara married Carlo A. Ninfi of Mount Desert in September 1961. They built a home in Hall Quarry in 1978, where Mr. and Mrs. Ninfi lived out their retirement years, spending their time with the family, supporting high school basketball, and enjoying their twice yearly sojourns to Sanibel Island in Florida. Mr. Ninfi died in January 2001. Mrs. Ninfi was a longstanding member of Somesville Union Meeting House and the Larger Parish of Mount Desert. She sang in the church choir for more than 50 years and served in many capacities, among them as treasurer of the Larger Parish. Until a few years ago, she was a dedicated participant in the annual summer performances of Mount Desert Chorale. Surviving are her daughter, Deborah L. Williams and son-in-law, John “Jock” Williams of Mount Desert; her son, David L. Lucas and daughter-in-law, Irene Lucas of Mililani, Hawaii; granddaughters and husbands, Elizabeth “Lili” and Seth Cooperrider of Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., Barbara Williams and Jason Watson of Mount Desert, Whitney and Daniel Granholm of Southwest Harbor; nine great-grandchildren; nieces, Susan Carter of Dennis, Mass., and Carla Lund of South Berwick; and nephews, Michael Scott of Washington state and John Lund of Candia, N.H. She was predeceased by a sister, Constance L. Scott of Mount Desert. Her special caregivers were invaluable for their loving and devoted care for almost two years. The family will have undying appreciation for their dedication which was above and beyond the call of duty. There will be a celebration of Barbara’s life in June 2010, at Somesville Union Meeting House. If people would like to give in Barbara’s memory, they may send contributions to the Carlo A. Ninfi Scholarship Fund, care of Steven Parady, The First, P.O. Box 258, Bar Harbor, ME 04605. Arrangements by Jordan-Fernald, 1139 Main St., Mount Desert. Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com.
BARBARA L. NINFI
