Barbara Sullivan-Dwyer
By Robert Gonzales
Good morning Prospectors and Miners,
It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I bring news of the passing of one of our dearest and most loyal members Barbara Sullivan-Dwyer.
Barbara thought the world of GPANM and ALL of its members. She regarded each and every one of our members as family. Barb as she preferred to be called, was the epitome of volunteerism and fellowship. If a volunteer was needed and the room was silent she would step up and keep our organization running.
She wore many hats in the organization and served with love and passion for as long as she was capable and beyond. She served as membership chair for years and made sure that everyone got their new card on time while keeping the organization well stocked with membership supplies such as cards, pocket protectors, etc. She did everything she could to ensure no member ever fell through the cracks. That was just the way she was. Every member was important; young, old or indifferent you were all part of her extended family.
She served for years as editor in chief of the New Mexico Nugget, the GPANM Newsletter. She worked tirelessly to ensure the Newsletter got out on time every time. Even when the number one procrastinator of the entire organization (me) served as President she always had fire handy to set under my "you know what" if I didn't get the diggings out by press time. As hot as those fires could get I couldn't help but love and admire her for her diligence and ability to get things done and keep me on track. To be honest in a lot of ways she was better at motivating me than my wife. Although the Newsletter was mass produced and sent to all members, she had each of us as individuals in mind. She sent the Newsletter during a time when the USPS was our primary distributor. Printing, going out and making copies, licking stamps and mailing them out to all the members. She was instrumental in convincing those last stubborn members not willing to trade their printed letter for an email. I was her biggest challenge during that period of time. Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stayed her from the swift completion of her appointed rounds. I admit I plagiarized that last sentence but Barb was the type of person the Post Office had in mind when they came up with their motto.
She served on our Board of Directors for numerous terms. Rarely did she ever miss a board meeting. The same goes for the regular meetings until she was no longer able to drive.
As the snack chairperson, she warmed our hearts and bellies with her delicious treats prepared with love. She was creative and spiced up our evenings with her snack ideas. She always remembered important dates like our organization's anniversary and made sure we had our birthday cake to celebrate another year of fellowship.
By far, the outings were most important to her. She was always the first to show up and represent the organization. At our annual outing to Pilar NM, she was always first to show up at our group camp (two or three days ahead of everybody else sometimes,) introduce herself to the BLM volunteer camp host to give them fair warning of the rest of the group's expected arrival. By the time the rest of us showed up the host would receive us with open arms and was crowned an honorary member by the time we had our potluck barbeque. The fact that the road building outings entailed mostly heavy manual labor she was still first to show up and would have coffee, donuts, and warm camaraderie waiting for the rest of us when we got there.
She had an undying love for people, the great outdoors, and the unlimited adventure and fun that could be found under the sun.
Dear to her heart was always the children. She never missed an opportunity to collaborate with Mama's Minerals, the City of Albuquerque and GPANM to teach kids how to pan for gold and learn the nuances of prospecting. She knew just the right things to say to help the kids learn the art of gold recovery by gravity separation. A fond personal memory is of a shy timid little boy that really wasn't sure he would be able to catch any gold in his pan. He wasn't getting enough energy transferred to the pan to move the dirt away so she told him to "grab it [the pan] like your life depends on it." It seemed at the time like it was a little bit of a rough tone to use for a small child but it worked. When it was all over he came to me with a big smile on his face and a nice looking little swirl of gold in the bottom of his pan so I could get it out and put in a vial for him. As he walked away he told the child, "you make sure you buy your mother something nice with all that gold."
One characteristic that I will never forget was her honesty. Yes, I know she could be brutally honest at times but she never believed in telling people what they wanted to hear just to keep their friendship. She believed that taking that proverbial elephant in the room and putting it right on the table was the quickest most efficient way to address uncomfortable issues or concerns. So you always knew where you stood with her at any given time, but she was not one to hold a permanent grudge against anyone. Her honesty was always towards the common benefit of everyone and not a personal agenda. This organization meant the world to her and she remained passionately engaged as long as she could until she couldn't. When she was no longer allowed by her doctors to drive, many members stepped up and drove her to and from the meetings.
I visited with her last fall. She was in good spirits, and sent kind words to the members and asked me to say hi. As much as she missed us she was still full of cheer and enthusiasm for her extended family at GPANM and her life family. She was beaming with pride while she told me of the weddings of her grandchildren, and the arrival of great grandchildren. Still was still sharp as a tack and telling me all their names and the wonderful get-togethers she was able to have with the loves of her life. Oh I should mention her dog, her baby, Charlie. She loved that dog to no end and she never hesitated to tell me everything about him.
Yes, Barbara Sullivan Dwyer wore a lot of hats. One of the biggest hats she wore was not a Texas ten-gallon hat but a GPANM fifty-five-gallon hat. That was the hat of a friend and that hat was big enough for everyone in the organization. She loved each and everyone of our members and we meant the world to her. I am truly going to miss her and it marks the end to an era that was filled with more wonderful memories than I can ever capture in this brief email. But I will gain comfort knowing that she loved life, she lived life with all her heart and that she is now with her husband Rick enjoying this chapter of eternity in heaven. I guarantee she is working hard and barking orders at the rest of our membership in heaven as they work together to pave the streets in gold in preparation for our eventual reunion.
To her son Sean, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking such good care of our dear friend and keeping her safe, comfortable and happy during these last transitional years of her life. You were an amazing son and she never missed an opportunity to brag about how good you have been to her. She loved you dearly and from where you are standing it must seem like an eternity before you will ever get to see her. But she lives on through you, your family and everyone she touched during her brief time on earth. GPANM is here if you need help with anything at all.
GPANM, Please join me in sending out prayers to Barb, all of her family and remember the life of a truly incredible person and remarkable friend.
God bless you all.
It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I bring news of the passing of one of our dearest and most loyal members Barbara Sullivan-Dwyer.
Barbara thought the world of GPANM and ALL of its members. She regarded each and every one of our members as family. Barb as she preferred to be called, was the epitome of volunteerism and fellowship. If a volunteer was needed and the room was silent she would step up and keep our organization running.
She wore many hats in the organization and served with love and passion for as long as she was capable and beyond. She served as membership chair for years and made sure that everyone got their new card on time while keeping the organization well stocked with membership supplies such as cards, pocket protectors, etc. She did everything she could to ensure no member ever fell through the cracks. That was just the way she was. Every member was important; young, old or indifferent you were all part of her extended family.
She served for years as editor in chief of the New Mexico Nugget, the GPANM Newsletter. She worked tirelessly to ensure the Newsletter got out on time every time. Even when the number one procrastinator of the entire organization (me) served as President she always had fire handy to set under my "you know what" if I didn't get the diggings out by press time. As hot as those fires could get I couldn't help but love and admire her for her diligence and ability to get things done and keep me on track. To be honest in a lot of ways she was better at motivating me than my wife. Although the Newsletter was mass produced and sent to all members, she had each of us as individuals in mind. She sent the Newsletter during a time when the USPS was our primary distributor. Printing, going out and making copies, licking stamps and mailing them out to all the members. She was instrumental in convincing those last stubborn members not willing to trade their printed letter for an email. I was her biggest challenge during that period of time. Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stayed her from the swift completion of her appointed rounds. I admit I plagiarized that last sentence but Barb was the type of person the Post Office had in mind when they came up with their motto.
She served on our Board of Directors for numerous terms. Rarely did she ever miss a board meeting. The same goes for the regular meetings until she was no longer able to drive.
As the snack chairperson, she warmed our hearts and bellies with her delicious treats prepared with love. She was creative and spiced up our evenings with her snack ideas. She always remembered important dates like our organization's anniversary and made sure we had our birthday cake to celebrate another year of fellowship.
By far, the outings were most important to her. She was always the first to show up and represent the organization. At our annual outing to Pilar NM, she was always first to show up at our group camp (two or three days ahead of everybody else sometimes,) introduce herself to the BLM volunteer camp host to give them fair warning of the rest of the group's expected arrival. By the time the rest of us showed up the host would receive us with open arms and was crowned an honorary member by the time we had our potluck barbeque. The fact that the road building outings entailed mostly heavy manual labor she was still first to show up and would have coffee, donuts, and warm camaraderie waiting for the rest of us when we got there.
She had an undying love for people, the great outdoors, and the unlimited adventure and fun that could be found under the sun.
Dear to her heart was always the children. She never missed an opportunity to collaborate with Mama's Minerals, the City of Albuquerque and GPANM to teach kids how to pan for gold and learn the nuances of prospecting. She knew just the right things to say to help the kids learn the art of gold recovery by gravity separation. A fond personal memory is of a shy timid little boy that really wasn't sure he would be able to catch any gold in his pan. He wasn't getting enough energy transferred to the pan to move the dirt away so she told him to "grab it [the pan] like your life depends on it." It seemed at the time like it was a little bit of a rough tone to use for a small child but it worked. When it was all over he came to me with a big smile on his face and a nice looking little swirl of gold in the bottom of his pan so I could get it out and put in a vial for him. As he walked away he told the child, "you make sure you buy your mother something nice with all that gold."
One characteristic that I will never forget was her honesty. Yes, I know she could be brutally honest at times but she never believed in telling people what they wanted to hear just to keep their friendship. She believed that taking that proverbial elephant in the room and putting it right on the table was the quickest most efficient way to address uncomfortable issues or concerns. So you always knew where you stood with her at any given time, but she was not one to hold a permanent grudge against anyone. Her honesty was always towards the common benefit of everyone and not a personal agenda. This organization meant the world to her and she remained passionately engaged as long as she could until she couldn't. When she was no longer allowed by her doctors to drive, many members stepped up and drove her to and from the meetings.
I visited with her last fall. She was in good spirits, and sent kind words to the members and asked me to say hi. As much as she missed us she was still full of cheer and enthusiasm for her extended family at GPANM and her life family. She was beaming with pride while she told me of the weddings of her grandchildren, and the arrival of great grandchildren. Still was still sharp as a tack and telling me all their names and the wonderful get-togethers she was able to have with the loves of her life. Oh I should mention her dog, her baby, Charlie. She loved that dog to no end and she never hesitated to tell me everything about him.
Yes, Barbara Sullivan Dwyer wore a lot of hats. One of the biggest hats she wore was not a Texas ten-gallon hat but a GPANM fifty-five-gallon hat. That was the hat of a friend and that hat was big enough for everyone in the organization. She loved each and everyone of our members and we meant the world to her. I am truly going to miss her and it marks the end to an era that was filled with more wonderful memories than I can ever capture in this brief email. But I will gain comfort knowing that she loved life, she lived life with all her heart and that she is now with her husband Rick enjoying this chapter of eternity in heaven. I guarantee she is working hard and barking orders at the rest of our membership in heaven as they work together to pave the streets in gold in preparation for our eventual reunion.
To her son Sean, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking such good care of our dear friend and keeping her safe, comfortable and happy during these last transitional years of her life. You were an amazing son and she never missed an opportunity to brag about how good you have been to her. She loved you dearly and from where you are standing it must seem like an eternity before you will ever get to see her. But she lives on through you, your family and everyone she touched during her brief time on earth. GPANM is here if you need help with anything at all.
GPANM, Please join me in sending out prayers to Barb, all of her family and remember the life of a truly incredible person and remarkable friend.
God bless you all.