Barbara McGrath

Barbara was born in Youngstown, Ohio and lived in Phoenix, Arizona for nearly 60 years, where she worked for the Mesa Public Schools as the District Drama Specialist for 17 years.

In December 1963, she married Douglas Gordon McGrath, and together they raised two children, Jeanne and Darrell.

Barbara was a lifelong teacher and student. She completed undergraduate studies in Speech and Theatre at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio; she received her BA in Speech and Theatre from University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona; she completed graduate studies at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio; she completed her Masters Degree in Theatre at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona.

Barbara was a passionate stage actor from the age of 9, and played countless roles in school, amateur, and professional productions throughout her lifetime. She won several awards, including five AriZoni awards for excellence in theatre.

She enjoyed recalling the time she and her co-star realized they had missed an entire scene in a performance and were playing out the final scene too early. They still had to come out for another scene. Quickly they collected themselves, went back on stage, and improvised a new ending to the play. "Happily, no one in the audience really knew what had happened. That's when the theater is truly magical. When you are working opposite an actor that you have come to know really well. You just connect, look at each other and somehow read each other's minds."

Barbara was dedicated in her service to the church, performing as a lector and singing in the choir. She was a lover of animals and nature, and enjoyed hiking with her dog, gardening, and visiting the beach.

Barbara is preceded in death by her parents, John and Ann Berg; her husband, Douglas McGrath; and her sister, Virginia Berg. She is survived by her children, Jeanne McGrath and Darrell (Stacy) McGrath; her siblings, Beverly Zwick, Karen Aldrich, and Jack Berg; and by several nieces and nephews.

Douglas was born to Roy and Ava McGrath in Waterloo, Iowa and soon after relocated to Phoenix, Arizona. It was at Phoenix Union High School where he found his love for acting and singing, as part of the Oratorio Society. He also had a passion for history and travel. He received his BA from the University of Arizona and his Masters from Arizona State University. He taught at Cortez High School in Glendale, Arizona, and at Phoenix College. He served in the United States Army as Chaplains Assistant and the Army Reserves.

A public funeral mass will be held at Our Lady of Peace, 20 E. Dominion Blvd., Columbus, Ohio, on Friday, March 18, 2022 at 10:30 a.m., with interment to follow at Resurrection Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the church prior to mass beginning at 9:30 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, her children have requested that donations in Barbara's honor be made to Live Like Roo Foundation for pets with cancer at livelikeroo.org and the American Cancer Society Pan Ohio Hope Ride at main.acsevents.org/goto/dmcgrath.