Barbara Dailey was born in 1930 and grew up in Lakewood, OH, a westside suburb of Cleveland. She was a very humble person, having struggled with her mother and older sister to survive the Great Depression.
Barbara had a profound and lifelong commitment to her Christian faith, inspiring a special appreciation for all of nature. Her faith inspired her to have love and compassion for all life. Whether it was a blooming flower, a collection of clouds in the sky, or the colors of her favorite season of autumn, virtually any aspect of nature brought her immense joy. Nothing bothered her more than the inhumane treatment of animals. Her dogs brought her love, joy, and companionship, but she was most passionate about her horses – owning three in her lifetime.
She participated in several riding competitions and was incredibly passionate about being around them and caring for them physically and emotionally. The strong connections that Barbara had with these horses were obvious to all around her. Often, the animals’ eyes did not leave Barbara. She was very gentle and loving.
In addition to her love of nature and animals, Barbara was also an accomplished violinist. Barbara joined the Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra, where she combined her love of the violin with her generosity by playing concerts, organizing fundraisers and other activities for over 50 years.
Because of Barbara’s journey in her faith, she was blessed with grace, mercy, and financial means. In making decisions about beneficiaries of her Trust, Barbara did her due diligence and independently selected and researched each organization thoroughly, including IFAW. Barbara’s generous bequests were a direct result of this journey.
Barbara was much more than a financial gift. She was a gift to anyone who met her – she loved everyone and everything. We at IFAW are so grateful for the legacy that Barbara leaves through her generosity, compassion, and kindness.