Barbara O'loughlin Silby

Barbara had wonderful family time in Nantucket, Palm Beach and Potomac, Maryland with her husband Howard, two daughters Elisabeth Petkevich and Caroline Silby Hinz; her two sons-in law Misha Petkevich and Laurence Hinz, and her five grandchildren Kathryn, Drew and Nicky Petkevich; Maddie and Carly Hinz. She is also survived by her brother Richard O’Loughlin and his wife Sally; her nephews and spouses Patrick and Courtney, Timothy and Christine, and Thomas and Amanda O’Loughlin; first cousin Paul Unger and wife Susan, their daughter Samantha and his son David.

Barbara had a successful business career including Director of Fundraising for the Carter-Mondale Campaign, Executive Director of Athletes and Artists for the Carter-Mondale campaign and served as Deputy Director of Fundraising for Mondale-Ferraro for President. During the Carter Presidency, she was an assistant to Annette Carter, and was honored to have attended State dinners for Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Pope John Paul II. She started her own political fundraising business, Barbara Silby and Associates, whose clients included Senators Howard Metzenbaum, Paul Simon, Jeff Bingaman, Roger Glenn, Bob Graham, Jay Rockefeller among others. She went on to serve as Chief of Staff of the General Services Administration and the Indian Gaming Commission under President Clinton. She started her career in Buffalo, NY in sales at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery and later at the Jefferson Place and Max Protech Galleries. In addition to her career in politics, she was Vice President of American Business Conference, an executive for the Young President’s Organization and a consultant to Green Spaces for D.C., Federation of American Scientists and Women’s Consumer Network.

She was a fierce advocate for women’s rights. She served as Chairman of the Board and Foundation of NARAL – Pro Choice America. She was a co-founder of the DSCC Woman's Council and Women’s Leadership Forum of the DNC. She showed her family the value in being a strong voice for others through political activism and philanthropy.

A native of South Orange, New Jersey “Babs” attended Wheelock College and met “Howie” on a blind date at Dartmouth College. Their commitment was to family first, and deep bonds with friends. Their quick wit and senses of humor all created a strong and passionate marriage that lasted 58 years. Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, Anne and Thomas O’Loughlin, half-brother Thomas O’Loughlin and her aunt Estelle Unger.

Services will be held Thursday June 8, 2017 at 10:30 am at Joseph Gawler’s Sons, 5130 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. In lieu of flowers, tax deductible donations can be made to Planned Parenthood or the NARAL – Pro Choice America Foundation in her honor at: prochoiceamerica.org/silbyfdn.