Barbara B. Withers

Barbara B. Withers, 86, a lifelong resident of Rochester, who spent more than 45 years as an active volunteer in many phases of the Corrections and Criminal Justice programs in Olmsted County, died Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014, at Golden Living Center East in Rochester. She was born here July 25, 1927, the daughter of Dr. John and Margaret Berkman. She graduated from Rochester High School in 1945 and attended Scripps College in California and the University of Minnesota. Beginning in the 1960's as a volunteer at the old Youth Vocational Camp (YVC) to her long-time position as the volunteer coordinator for staffing the jail library at the Adult Detention Center, she participated in a variety of Olmsted County and statewide programs. From the PORT agency in the 1970's (Probation Offenders Rehabilitation and Training) to JSSVP (Justice Social Systems Volunteer Program), to the Guardian Ad Litem program, she was an involved volunteer. Barby, as she preferred to be called, was honored many times for her active roles. Among the citations: JSSVP cited her several times for her dedicated service to that organization's various programs. In 1982 Gov. Al Quie commended her for her service to the Governor's Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee and to the Guardian Ad Litem program. In 1988 Gov. Rudy Perpich also cited her for her continued volunteer work in those activities. In 1985 the Dodge, Fillmore, Olmsted (DFO) Community Corrections honored her service to that program. In 1989 she was presented the Rochester Mayor's Medal of Honor for Human Services. In 1991 President George H.W. Bush paid tribute to her numerous volunteer commitments with a presidential "Point of Light" award. Among her many honors, she was most proud of that presidential recognition. In 1997 the American Jail Association named her its Volunteer of the Year and presented the award plaque at the AJA annual convention in Salt Lake City. That same year, the Minnesota Sheriffs Association named her its Volunteer of the Year at its convention. She was the "boss" of the inmates' library at the jail for many years as a worker and as the recruiter for volunteers to help staff the facility. More recently, in 2010 she was honored with the Maude Finch Award for "a career of service and achievement in our community" by the Women's Leadership Council of the United Way of Olmsted County. And in 2012, she was one of 25 women profiled in the book "Taking the Lead" with the subtitle "Rochester Women in Public Policy, 1970-1990." The book was sponsored by the Rochester League of Women Voters. In addition to her years of volunteer service to various corrections and criminal justice activities, she also served on the board of directors of other community organizations, including the Rochester Area Foundation, Rochester Community College Foundation, Civic League Day Nursery and the Rochester Sesquicentennial celebration. She is survived by her husband. Charles Withers, a former editor and co-owner of the Rochester Post-Bulletin; along with a son, John (Patricia) Withers, of Rochester; and two daughters, Ann (Russ) Martin, of Ann Arbor, Mich., and Suzanne (Mike) Schrader, of Eagan. Also surviving are seven grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren; along with her sister, Suzanne Johnson of Alexandria, Va.; and brother, William (Cynthia) Berkman, of Colorado Springs, Colo. A granddaughter, Veronica Schrader preceded her in death. Dr. W.W. Mayo was Barby's great-grandfather. Her grandmother was Gertrude Mayo Berkman, the sister of Drs. Will and Charlie Mayo. Her father, Dr. John Berkman, was a longtime Mayo Clinic physician. Many Mayo family historical items were donated by Barby to the Heritage Museum in the lobby of the Mayo Building and to a display cabinet along the subway corridor into the Gonda Building. Arrangements are pending at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes and St. Luke's Episcopal Church. The family prefers memorial to the Rochester Area Foundation or the Mayo Clinic Foundation.