Barbara B. Sager

HAVERHILL - Barbara B. Sager, 76, of Haverhill, MA passed away peacefully after a brave battle with cancer Sunday morning, July 14, at High Pointe House.

Barbara was born on May 21, 1948 in Hazleton, PA, daughter of the late Sidney and Eva (née Fleshman) Benjamin, younger sister to Ronald L. Benjamin. She was raised in the small town of Dalton, PA. Though Barbara achieved much professional success in the Boston area, she never lost her small town values, which guided her throughout her life. 

Barbara attended Syracuse University and subsequently earned an MBA at Northeastern, which led her to co-found, in the mid-1980s, a small business that produced an early software-based healthcare management system. After this, she joined Medical Systems Management, which became Picis, Inc., where she rose into leadership before retiring in the aughts. She was an innovator with a pragmatic streak and a do-er. Her business associates respected her for her insight and ability to get things done.

Barbara especially loved her church community and was an active member of St. David’s Episcopal Church in Salem, NH for 16 years. She sang in the choir—she had a lovely soprano voice—and was twice elected to the position of Senior Warden in the church vestry, where she supported the work of the church, building her church community within and serving those of need in the community at large. When St. David’s hosted an event, she was almost sure to be involved! She was deeply loved by the entire congregation.

Beyond her service through St. David’s, Barbara gave her time happily to many causes. Her 15 years of service to Tufts Medicine Care at Home, where she was on the Board of Trustees and a strong supporter of fundraising events, as well as her work with the Tom Sager Golf Academy, which Barbara envisioned and founded in honor of her husband Tom, helped her touch many lives. The Tom Sager Golf Academy, run through a Merrimack Valley YMCA and Renaissance Golf Club partnership, gives free golf lessons, access, and equipment to children. Barbara relished the game of golf, which she often played with Tom on weekends and in her retirement, and she was honored to help a younger generation develop enthusiasm for it. She was especially motivated to provide golf access and skills to underprivileged children, and thrilled when the Golf Academy accomplished this, as it often did.

An animal lover, Barbara had a special bond with dogs and horses. A list of all the dogs she owned and loved in her lifetime would be quite extensive! She leaves behind two terriers, Lucy and Toto. Both Lucy and Toto have found homes with loving families.

Barbara loved her family most of all and enjoyed laughing around the dinner table with her five kids and Tom, dogs underfoot and getting fed—from the table, of course. She enjoyed walking the dogs and chatting with whichever family member wanted to go along on her Merrimack River-side rambles. She looked forward to family trips and, from Hawaii to Grand Canyon National Park to weekend ski trips in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, she had great fun exploring places with her kids and husband, and doing the activities they offered.       

Barbara was predeceased by Tom, who passed in 2009. She is survived by her five children—Eric, Josh, Sarah, Allison, and Ashley—and their families, as well as many loving extended family members and a wide circle of friends. She is dearly missed and was deeply loved by so many.    

Visitation will be held on Thursday, July 18, in the Driscoll Funeral Home, 309 S. Main Street, Haverhill from 4:00 to 7:00 PM. Funeral Service on Friday in St. David's Episcopal Church, 231 Main Street, Salem, NH at 10:00 AM. Please meet directly at the church. Interement will follow in Elmwood Cemetery, Haverhill. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. David’s Episcopal Church at stdavidsalemnh.org, or to the Tom Sager Golf Academy at mvymca.org/merrimack-valley-ymca-golf-outing. For guestbook, visit www.driscollcares.com

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