Portville Hall of Fame
Barb Fairbanks was born in Brooklyn, New York, on February 13, 1947, to
Louis and Victoria Misiano. She graduated from Ocean Side High School in
Ocean Side, Long Island in the Class of 1965. While there she was a member of
the National Honor Society, the Drama Club, the field hockey team, and was a
class officer for several years.
Barb was awarded a bachelor's degree from Albany State University in 1969,
completing studies in French, Spanish, and elementary education. She
subsequently received her masters degree at SUNY Albany.
While at Albany, she met Bob Fairbanks, who was working for the University.
They were married on June 7, 1969, in an outside ceremony at the chapel
house. The music for the wedding was provided by the University Band.
Barb taught in the Amsterdam and Sharon Springs School Districts for several
years until Bob was offered a job at Portville as the PCS Business Manager. So
they moved to Portville, Bob's home town. She substituted in the Portville
District until she was hired to teach in the Olean City School District in 1985.
She retired in 2002 after a very rewarding career in education.
While still in Albany, Barb and Bob adopted two siblings, Bobbie and Cory.
They both attended Portville and graduated here. Cory now lives in North
Carolina. Bobbie stayed in this area to raise her children until her death a few
years ago.
There have been a few other members of their family over the years. Presently
those members are Sammy, Chester, and Fred. They are all rescue dogs and are
happy to be a part of the Fairbanks family.
One could say Barb has lived a good and worthy life here in Portville. But this is
only a small part of the real Barb Fairbanks. Everyone knows Barb. She is
involved in many Portville organizations. She is a faithful and valuable volunteer
in such activities as the Food Pantry, Inter-Faith Care Givers, for which she
drives, the First Presbyterian Church of Portville, where she has served as the
treasurer for many years, and is part of the Church Session.
She has volunteered with the Southern Tier Symphony, the Gift Tree, the
Genesis House, and Joyful Rescue. There are others, such as Wounded
Warriors. For many of these groups, she has been a fund-raiser.
In Barb's words: "Volunteering has been my life." She finds fulfillment in "doing
what needs to be done" without all the recognition that often accompanies it.
Barb Fairbanks has been and continues to be one of the most valuable people
behind the scenes helping to see that good things get done in our community.
(As presented at the Hall of Fame at the Alumni Banquet, 2016)
Louis and Victoria Misiano. She graduated from Ocean Side High School in
Ocean Side, Long Island in the Class of 1965. While there she was a member of
the National Honor Society, the Drama Club, the field hockey team, and was a
class officer for several years.
Barb was awarded a bachelor's degree from Albany State University in 1969,
completing studies in French, Spanish, and elementary education. She
subsequently received her masters degree at SUNY Albany.
While at Albany, she met Bob Fairbanks, who was working for the University.
They were married on June 7, 1969, in an outside ceremony at the chapel
house. The music for the wedding was provided by the University Band.
Barb taught in the Amsterdam and Sharon Springs School Districts for several
years until Bob was offered a job at Portville as the PCS Business Manager. So
they moved to Portville, Bob's home town. She substituted in the Portville
District until she was hired to teach in the Olean City School District in 1985.
She retired in 2002 after a very rewarding career in education.
While still in Albany, Barb and Bob adopted two siblings, Bobbie and Cory.
They both attended Portville and graduated here. Cory now lives in North
Carolina. Bobbie stayed in this area to raise her children until her death a few
years ago.
There have been a few other members of their family over the years. Presently
those members are Sammy, Chester, and Fred. They are all rescue dogs and are
happy to be a part of the Fairbanks family.
One could say Barb has lived a good and worthy life here in Portville. But this is
only a small part of the real Barb Fairbanks. Everyone knows Barb. She is
involved in many Portville organizations. She is a faithful and valuable volunteer
in such activities as the Food Pantry, Inter-Faith Care Givers, for which she
drives, the First Presbyterian Church of Portville, where she has served as the
treasurer for many years, and is part of the Church Session.
She has volunteered with the Southern Tier Symphony, the Gift Tree, the
Genesis House, and Joyful Rescue. There are others, such as Wounded
Warriors. For many of these groups, she has been a fund-raiser.
In Barb's words: "Volunteering has been my life." She finds fulfillment in "doing
what needs to be done" without all the recognition that often accompanies it.
Barb Fairbanks has been and continues to be one of the most valuable people
behind the scenes helping to see that good things get done in our community.
(As presented at the Hall of Fame at the Alumni Banquet, 2016)
| The Portville Historical and Preservation Society |
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| 17 Maple Avenue Portville, NY 14770 www.portvillehistory.org |
Portville, New York
| Barb Fairbanks PCS Hall of Fame ~ Class of 2016 |
