Helen Noel Clark Barber, 84, of Berkeley passed away on October 14. Her late husband Dr. Thomas Earle Barber of Berkeley was the love of her life. They were engaged just eight days after they first met.

The daughter of U.S. Senator D. Worth Clark and Virgil Irwin Clark of Idaho, Helen was born in Pocatello, Idaho and raised in Washington, D.C. Intelligent and passionate about literature, she majored in English at Radcliffe College.

Helen lived for over 50 years in Berkeley and spent treasured times at Fallen Leaf Lake. Long family car trips were often filled with music as Tom and Helen harmonized on songs like Sentimental Journey and You Are My Sunshine.

Her volunteer leadership began with the Junior League of the East Bay and led to roles in other groups such as the Claremont Book Club and Town and Gown. An enthusiastic supporter of all activities involving her family, she loved watching her grandchildren on the sports fields and at musical performances. But what most inspired her passion was her work with her alma mater, Radcliffe College, and the Berkeley Repertory Theater (BRT).

Helen's connection to BRT began 40 years ago attending live performances in the 150-seat Elmwood Theater near her home. Seeing the group's potential, she formed and then chaired the first BRT Board of Directors. She led a successful capital campaign to build BRT's first theater on Addison Street. Today BRT is a nationally-recognized resident company with two stages.

Her work for Radcliffe began as an alumni interviewer. She chaired the local alumni club's Schools and Scholarship Committee. A proven leader, she was elected to the Radcliffe Alumni Board. In this role, she spearheaded the merger of the Harvard and Radcliffe Alumni Associations, a difficult task that she made look easy. She subsequently served on the newly merged Harvard/Radcliffe Alumni Board.

Helen is survived by her sister Nancy Clark Reynolds, Santa Fe, NM, four children and six grandchildren: Becky, Peter, Erin and Tess Coffey, Madison, CT; Christine Barber-Nicolopulos, Rossmoor, CA; Dottie Barber, Oakland; CA; and Dr. Thomas, Carol Ann, TJ, Matthew, Cate, and Christopher Barber, Orinda, CA.

The memorial service will be at St. Clement's Episcopal Church, 2837 Claremont, Berkeley, CA, on Mon., Oct. 28, at 4 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Berkeley Repertory Theater, Attn: Helen Barber Memorial Fund, 999 Harrison St., Berkeley, CA 94710.http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/sfgate/obituary.aspx?n=helen-barber&pid=167567786#sthash.wrOejzfh.dpuf

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