Gail C. Barrnett

Gail Barrnett of Hingham and Mashpee, loving mother, teacher, gardener, friend

Gail Barrnett, a retired teacher, avid gardener and past President of the Cape and Islands Orchid Society, known for her exuberance and sense of humor, died on Monday, June 17th, at South Shore Hospital in Weymouth, Massachusetts, surrounded by family.  She was 79.

The cause of death was lung cancer, which was discovered just over three weeks ago, according to her daughters who announced her passing with heavy hearts.

Gail was born and raised in Buffalo, New York, on July 18, 1933.  At the age of 20, she married musician and Professor Joel Spiegelman, with whom she moved to France in 1956.  They stayed four years and had the first two of their three children, daughters Maia Hunter and Katia Lief.  During those years, Gail worked as a teacher at American Air Force bases in Chaumont and Evreux.  Their son, Eric Spiegelman (aka Ariel Ben Yakov) was born after their return to the United States, where they settled in Boston.

She attended Mount Holyoke College, graduated from Boston University and earned a master’s degree in education at Hunter College in NY.

A talented educator, Gail was a teacher in Brookline, MA, first at the Devotion School and later at the Runkle School.  In 1966, she moved with her family to Bronxville, NY.  For the next eight years, she taught at the Heathcote School in Scarsdale.  After her divorce from Prof. Spiegelman, Gail married Dr. Russell Barrnett, a thoracic surgeon and cell biologist who was on the faculty of Yale Medical School where he also served as dean.  They lived in Hamden, Connecticut for fifteen years, during which time Gail worked as a French teacher.  Upon retirement, they moved to Mashpee on Cape Cod, where they built a sun-filled home and filled it with art, books and eventually grandchildren.  In addition to serving as president of the Cape and Islands Orchid Society, Gail served as publicity chairman.

After Dr. Barrnett’s death, Gail married William Beggs, from whom she was divorced at the time of her death.

Wherever she lived, Gail’s passion for gardening kept her outdoors whenever possible.  Her largest canvas was the four lakeside acres in Mashpee which she filled with masterstrokes of color, fragrance and texture.  She created and tended her gardens with inspired dedication, nurturing, often without assistance, a vast assortment of flowers, a fruit orchard, an extensive vegetable garden and a large selection of roses.  Eventually she bought herself a tractor which was a source of pleasure and pride.  When she wasn’t maintaining her gardens or doing crossword puzzles on rainy days, she enjoyed hauling her grandchildren around her property in a wagon attached to the tractor, which she taught them to drive as soon as their feet could reach the pedals.

Gail was an enthusiast who loved life, laughter, family and travel.  She took great joy in her grandchildren Harry Hunter, Eli Lief and Karenna Lief.  In addition to her children and grandchildren, Gail is survived by mother Frances Voelker, sister Linda Winograd, brother Glenn Voelker, sons-in-law Sam Hunter and Oliver Lief, and companion Leonard (Robin) Hulls.

A gathering in celebration of Gail’s life will be held on Saturday, June 22nd from 1:00-3:00 pm in the Derby music room at Linden Ponds, 207 Linden Ponds Way, Hingham, MA.  Donations in Gail’s memory can be made to The Cape & Islands Orchid Society c/o Jack Martinelli, Treasurer, 7 Samoset Ave., Duxbury, MA 02332-5206