Plan for the Future
Barbara McClelland Day Dugan passed away peacefully on May 19, 2024 in her home in New Vernon, NJ. She was 101 years of age.
Barbara was born and raised in Summit, NJ. She attended Kent Place School in Summit and Holmquist School (now Solebury School) in New Hope, PA.
Barbara met her husband John L. (Jack) Dugan, Jr. in 1946 in Buck Hill Falls, PA, where her family had a vacation home, and they married in December of that year. They raised their family in Short Hills, NJ where they lived for more than 36 years and were active members of Christ Church and the Short Hills Club. They also maintained a vacation home in Buck Hill Falls and were active in that community for more than 50 years. Barbara and Jack moved to New Vernon in 1989 and were active members of the First Presbyterian Church of New Vernon.
Barbara enjoyed cherished relationships throughout every chapter of her long and wonderful life. She imbued the family home with warmth, caring and understanding that welcomed all, including family, friends, and friends of family members. Barbara once reminded us that, growing up, she did not especially enjoy school and asked her mother “What is my strong suit?” Her mother replied “People”. “I was very popular at recess,” Barbara commented.
Barbara was legendary in the family for the poems and verses she created, typically to celebrate family milestones or otherwise impart wisdom. A verse famous within the family was a paean to teenage angst composed in her youth, which began “It isn’t very pleasant to be called an adolescent, and be told that you are going through a phase….”
Barbara derived special joy from spending much time with a large and loving family, including three children and their spouses, six grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren, many of whom gathered recently to celebrate Barbara’s 101st birthday. She felt especially blessed to have the love, care and support of her family, caregivers and friends while living in her home during the final years of her life.
Barbara was pre-deceased by Jack, her husband of 72 years. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Nicki and Stanley Doggett of Vero Beach, FL and Buck Hill Falls, PA; son and daughter-in-law Geoffrey and Sally Dugan of Larkspur, CA and Laurel Beach, CT; daughter and son-in-law Sally Dugan and Scott Winn of Summit, NJ and Vero Beach, FL; grandson Ned Southworth, his spouse Roseann Squire, their daughters Annie and Izzie of Chestertown, MD and son and daughter-in-law Brownie and Jillian Southworth of Burke, VA; grandson John Dugan, his spouse Katie and their daughters Roxanne and Jane of Seattle, WA; granddaughter Leigh Dugan, her spouse Mark Zambrano and their children Jack and Sally of Hoboken, NJ; grandson Patrick Dugan of New York, NY; granddaughter Sara Springmeyer Abbey, her spouse Jamie and their son Spencer of London, UK; and granddaughter Leslie Springmeyer O’Toole, her spouse Brian and their children Frankie, Teddy and Mac of Maplewood, NJ.
A private interment service will be held for the family.
