On October 29th, 2021 following an extraordinary and well lived life, Barbara Elliott Fargo, aka ”Bargo” and “Basi”, passed peacefully in her sleep at the age of 91.

Bargo was a woman of action, and in all the very best ways, she was old school: Family was primary and she was committed to their well-being, friends were essential, and service to one’s community and environment was one’s duty.

The daughter of a science teacher and coach at St. George’s School in Middletown, R.I., she grew up loving all sports, especially team sports.  She loved the camaraderie, competition and the joy of collectively working towards a greater goal. For Bargo, it was the effort not the result that inspired her. The essence of good sportsmanship and its value and grace continued to resonate in all aspects of her life, both on and off the field.

Bargo’s compassion for others motivated her into service. She exemplified the model of thinking globally and acting locally and was dedicated to supporting organizations that proved impactful to her community.

She received the “Distinguished Friend of Education Award” from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education. Wheelock College recognized and honored her years of service with the Alumni Distinguished Service Award as well as an Honorary Doctorate of Education. Mass Audubon’s Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary in Worcester named their new facility, the “Barbara Elliott Fargo Education Center” as a dedication to her vision and philanthropic efforts, which helped to facilitate the creation of her cherished inner-city sanctuary.

Basi believed that realizing the joys of life required initiative, especially when outside of our comfort zones. She moved through her community and travelled around the world testing and proving her hypothesis every day. “A stranger is simply a friend you haven’t met yet,” was an ideal she shared with every child and a choice she demonstrated to every adult she met.

It would be her wish that we continue her mission and vision to support through dedication and hard work organizations that educate our youth, embrace the potential of hope, and protect the precious natural world around us.

Basi is preceded by her husband, Bronson Fargo, and sons, Bronson Jr and Rob. She is survived by her son Matt, her daughter-in-laws Lisa and Melinda, six grandchildren, a great-grandson, and a llama from Nepal.

Her family requests that gifts in her honor be made to the Broadmeadow Brook Sanctuary in Worcester Massachusetts. A celebration of her life will be scheduled next summer.