Barbara "Bobby" Dolan (Fish) Leach, 85, of Newport Center died on October 27, 2025 at the UVM Medical Center.  Barbara was born in Northfield, Vermont on January 9, 1940, the daughter of Charles and Luna Dolan.  She graduated from Northfield High School in 1958 and from Castleton State College in 1962.  After teaching five years in Springfield, she moved to the NEK in 1967...her 'forever after' home.  During her lifetime here, she lived in Derby, Derby Line, Newport and Newport Center, enjoying them all.  Her teaching career continued with twenty five years at North Country Union Junior High and seven years at NCU High School where she taught English and Reading classes.  During this time she took graduate classes at Lyndon, Johnson, and UVM.  Girl Scouts composed an important part of her life as her daughters grew.  Barbara served both as a Brownie and Cadette leader.  After her retirement she served on the Goodrich Library Board, was a member of the VT Retired Educators Association and the NEA, and was member of the Newport Town School Board.  Barbara was a weekly volunteer at Bel-Aire Center, hosting "Bobby's Reading Club" for many years.

Barbara is survived by her much loved family: husband Gary, and her two daughters, Lora (Eric) McGraw of Richford, and Didi (Jeff) Kinaman of Essex.  She leaves four grandchildren:  Erin and Dana McGraw, and Allyson and Ben Kinaman.  She is also survived by two step-children, Sharon (Scott) Putnam and Charlene (Chris) Carroll of New York and two step-grandchildren, Stephen Thompson and Sierra Putnam.  In addition, Bobby had many special extended family members and often shared loving, fond memories of her nephews and her niece from years past. She is predeceased by her first husband, Byron Fish, the father of her two daughters.  Bobby was also predeceased by her parents and siblings: Howard, Grace, Bernice "Bunny", and Carlton and their beloved spouses.

Barbara loved her "kids", both her own, as well as her former students.  Bobby enjoyed reading, gardening, nature, a lifetime of amazing pets, and the NEK.

Contributions in her memory may be given to the Pope Memorial Frontier Animal Shelter 4473 Barton Orleans Road, Orleans, VT  05860.

Respecting her wishes, there will be no funeral service.  A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Online condolences are welcomed at curtis-britch.com. Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Curtis-Britch & Bouffard Funeral Home & Cremation Service, locally family owned and operated.