The Fenton History Center mourns the passing of former Education Director Barbara A. “Barb” Strychalski, who died on August 27, 2025, at the age of 83.
Barb was born in Dunkirk in 1941 and earned her teaching degree from D’Youville College in 1963. She joined the Fenton in 1984 as a museum teacher and, from 1987 to 1997, served as Education Director.
During her decade of leadership, the Education Department expanded its outreach to area schools and community groups. Museum teachers carried large traveling kits filled with artifacts and costumes, allowing students to take on historical roles and connect directly with the past. At the museum, the program took root in what is now the Frances Wolinsky Room, where costumes, supplies, and space for student groups were organized.
Her work shaped an era when the Fenton’s education programs grew in scope and impact, ensuring that thousands of students were introduced to the stories of Jamestown and Chautauqua County history.
