CASCO — With great sadness, we announce that Barbara Kollin Sparrow, 84, an 18-year resident of Watkins Shores Road in Casco passed away on February 6, 2025, at Gosnell Hospice House in Scarborough after a brave fight with dementia.

She grew up as Barbara Joyce Kollin, born in New York City on July 8,
1940, the daughter of Hungarian immigrant parents William Kollin
and Claire Zwillinger. During her childhood the family moved to
Miami, Fla., where she graduated from high school in 1959. At this
point, her parents urged her to just “find a nice boy and get married.” However Barbara was determined to achieve additional education, even without their support. So to make this goal affordable she moved to Mexico City, Mexico, learned to speak Spanish, and earned a B.A. Degree in Psychology from the University of Mexico.

After brief tenures teaching school in Berkley, Calif., and Chicago, Ill., Barbara arrived in Harrison in 1968 and purchased a log cabin home on Carsley Road in 1970. She taught 4th grade at the Waterford School for one year, followed by 34 more years as an elementary school counselor for many schools in the Oxford Hills school district. During this time, she also earned an M.Ed. degree in Counseling from the University of Maine. Throughout these years, countless students and teachers became extremely grateful to her for her dedicated work. In 2004, Barbara retired from the schools and for the next 12 years operated a private practice in Bridgton as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. Early on, Barbara found she had a true gift for connecting with very young people, so throughout her counseling career children were always her primary focus.

In 1976, Barbara married her husband, John. A year later, they purchased the former Smith farm on Maple Ridge Road in Harrison and soon became proud, devoted parents of two adopted sons, Seth and Jason. John and Barbara divorced amicably in 2011, but remained on very friendly, supportive terms to the end.

Barbara’s retirement years were spent with her beloved dog Yumi in a small charming home on Thomas Pond in Casco. During this time, she became an avid kayaker and enthusiastic ukulele player. Barbara’s life always focused on compassion- ate caring for fellow human beings. A typical example was her willingness to drop everything and travel to New Orleans in 2005 as a Red Cross volunteer to provide emotional support to victims of Hurricane Katrina. In recent years, she was seen multiple times holding up signs at the Windham rotary circle urging peace and respect.

Barbara is survived by her two much-loved and respected sons, Seth William Sparrow of Harrison, and Jason Philip Sparrow (Catrina) of Green River, Wy.; a niece Lisa Kollin in Hawaii; a nephew Todd Kollin in Calif.; and also by her former husband John Sparrow of Harrison.

She was predeceased in 2010 by an older brother, Richard Kollin of Oakland, Calif.

A celebration of Barbara’s life will be held at 2 p.m. on April 3 at Unity Church, 54 River Road, Windham.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a contribution be given in her name to the American Red Cross.

Condolences may be mailed to P.O. Box 863, Harrison, ME 04040, or given online at www.hallfuneralhome.net.