Barbara Sleight

Barbara Sleight, 91, was gathered to her Lord after a fruitful life. She was born February 26, 1934, in Cranford, NJ, to Roger S and Alma K (Von den Deale) Breck. The family moved to Syracuse, NY, at the time when Carrier Corporation, for whom her father worked, brought operations there in 1937. Barbara graduated from Nottingham High School in 1951, attended St Lawrence University before transferring to Syracuse University, graduating in 1955. She began teaching elementary school in Boulder, CO, and loved exploring the mountain west. Her zest for adventure led her to join a group led by a political science professor from Colorado University that sailed from Montreal and toured six European countries during the summer of 1956. She received her master’s degree in education from Colorado University.

In Colorado, Barb met Adams Center, NY, native Ralph Edward Sleight, with whom she enjoyed hiking and skiing. They were married in 1959 and had three children, moving to Denver, then Everett, WA, and Plainfield, NJ, before settling in Collamer (East Syracuse), NY. After the marriage ended, she resumed teaching in the North Syracuse Central School District (Smith Rd Elementary and Gillette Rd Middle School) until retirement. Forced out of the old farmstead on Collamer Rd by the construction of I-481 in 1981, she and her three then college age children moved to Smith Rd in North Syracuse.

She is predeceased by her parents, sister Carolyn “Sue” (Breck) Drumma, brother-in-law Francis Drumma, former parents-in-law Carlton and Honor (Rhodes) Sleight, and other dear friends. She is survived by sons Steven Breck (Michelle), Vonden Marshall (Sandra), and daughter Tanya Dawn McIntire (Todd), grandchildren Kayah, Christian, Sierra Goodrich (Obadiah), Nathan, Jesse, Micah, Alexa, Isaac McIntire (Coleen) and Noah McIntire, and five great-grandchildren.

Barbara possessed a keen interest in numerous endeavors. She loved music, learning piano and violin as a child and went on to played in a community orchestra in Syracuse at 15, in Colorado, for her family at home, and for decades at Living Word Church.

For many people, Barb was synonymous with swimming as an instructor and waterfront director – volunteering as an SU student to teach swimming at a Syracuse City school, serving generations of children at Living Word Camp, and getting involved with various American Red Cross Aquatics programs.

For others around CNY and across the country, Barb was known as a zealous participant, mapmaker, course setter, instructor and organizer in the sport of orienteering (helping found the CNY Orienteering Club, participating in national championships, and organizing events for every level from children to top athletes). A search of Syracuse newspaper archives will turn up many articles interviewing Barb Sleight on the subject of orienteering.

To literally hundreds of others, she was a Scouts BSA leader and administrator (initiating three Cub Scout packs in Plainfield, Collamer and at Living Word Academy, serving as a Den Mother, Cub Master, Unit Commissioner, Merit Badge Counselor, and as a member of the Onondaga District Advancement and Activities Committees – where she particularly enjoyed serving on the Eagle Scout Board of Review). Barb was part of an honorary group of mostly men (“Old Goats”) and a few women (“Nanny Goats”) who organized the District Camporees. She attended and instructed numerous adult scouter training courses, including Wood Badge. In 2011, Barb Sleight received the Silver Beaver Award, a national recognition for adult service in the Council. Barb was also involved with girls leading wilderness camping trips and as a Girl Scout and Sister Scout leader at LWA.

Barb was a board member of the Syracuse Council of Hosteling International-USA, that ran the Syracuse - Downing and the Cape Vincent - Tibbetts Point Lighthouse Hostels. She volunteered many hours toward oversight of the properties, staffing and finances and attended national conventions to glean information and ideas that would benefit the Syracuse Council.

She was a writer, editor, paste-up artist and spot-on proofreader for several publications throughout her life, including as a faithful member of the Living Word Church Publications Department.

Barb was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Her ancestry traces in nine generations to Edward Breck, an Englishman who came to the New World in 1635 with the Rev. Richard Mather seeking religious freedom. This group founded the first free school in the colonies in Dorchester, a model and legacy of education that has blessed the entire world. The Breck family influence in New England runs deep, in Claremont and surrounding towns in NH. Barb enjoyed spending time at the “Wigwam” a family cottage in Blodgett Landing on Lake Sunapee, where she spent many summers as a girl, sailing, canoeing, and swimming, and later where she taught her children the same.

Most significantly of all, Barb was a devoted follower of Jesus Christ, saved by grace alone through faith (not by works or legacy). She loved studying her Bible, singing the songs of the redeemed, lifting her heart, hands and voice to the Lord in worship. While many shall rise up and call her blessed, her greatest hope was to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”

Memorial contributions may be made to any of the organizations and causes with which Barbara was involved. 

A graveside committal will be on December 12 at 11:00 am at White Chapel Memory Gardens in Dewitt. A celebration of life is scheduled for Jan 3, 2026, at 11:00 at Living Word Church in Syracuse, with calling hours at 10:00 and a lunch to follow; all are welcome. 

To share a memory of Barbara or leave a special message for her family, visit the guest book below.