Barbara Stecconi Graham, born October 19, 1948, passed away on August 16, 2024, at
her home in Cambridge, MA, after a long illness. Born in New York City, Barbara was
the only offspring of the late Louisa Anselmi Stecconi (d. 2020) and Louis M. Stecconi
(d. 1966). Generous, kind, inclusive, quick witted, hard-working, elegant, and always
meticulous, Barbara was a devoted wife, mother, friend, mentor, and professional. Her
life was dedicated to education—first in public-schools and then, for most of her
adulthood, in higher education. She earned a doctorate (1989) and Master’s (1981)
from Harvard Graduate School of Education, both of which she completed while working
fulltime. She held also an M.L.S. (1973) from Simmons College Graduate School of
Library and Information Science, and a B.A. in History from City College of New York
(1970). After working as a librarian and media specialist in Boston-area public schools
from 1973 to 1980, Barbara became director of media services for Harvard’s Graduate
School of Education, then moved to the Harvard University Library (coordinating body
for all Harvard libraries at that time) in 1984 as special assistant to the Director, then
Assistant Director for Finance and Special Projects, and ultimately Associate Director
for Administration and Programs (1992-2010). In conjunction with her Harvard Library
work, she served on diverse committees and gave lectures internationally. The largest
of her many projects for the Library was the creation and oversight of Harvard’s remote-
storage book depository from the early 1990s until her retirement in 2010. She and her
husband also served from 1993-2003 as Co-Masters of Currier House, one of Harvard’s
undergraduate residential colleges, during which time she was also a member of the
Simmons College Corporation and, from May to September 1994, Acting President of
Simmons College. Barbara was an accomplished photographer. She loved the
outdoors and spent many days hiking, climbing, and cross-country skiing, both in her
beloved White Mountains and abroad. She is survived by her husband of forty-one
years, William A. Graham, emeritus professor at Harvard University, and her son,
Powell L. Graham, M.D., and daughter-in-law, Arielle C. Graham, M.D. Her ashes will
be interred in a private family service at Mount Auburn Cemetery. A memorial service
will be held at Harvard in early November. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her name
can be made to the Cambridge Public Library Foundation, Simmons University, Harvard
Graduate School of Education, or Lewy Body Dementia Association.