It is with great sadness that we pass along the news that Barb Glasow, PT, HPCS passed away on May 23, 2009, after a long battle with breast cancer. For those of us that saw Barb at the AHA conference earlier this month, it is hard to believe that she is no longer with us. Barb’s intelligence, wit and foresight, her strength of character and toughness were an inspiration to friends and colleagues.
In an email Pat Sayler, Barb’s partner of 23 years, wrote: “I cannot tell you how much the visit to the Conference meant to Barb; she was on such an upswing, planning her article, excited that people still appreciated her thoughts and insights. She truly missed being involved. She was thrilled to see so many new faces in the membership, knowing that as things evolve the work of AHA and hippotherapy will continue. It was a great 2 weeks for us both and, I, too, am so glad that we made the effort to come.”
Barb will be missed by all whose lives she has touched.
Obituary for Barbara L. Glasow, PT
May 23, 2009
Barbara L. Glasow, 55, passed away on Saturday morning, May 23rd in Pocono Medical Center after a long battle with breast cancer. Born in Rochester, NY she was the daughter of Robert and the late Muriel Glasow.
Barbara was Senior Class Valedictorian at Cardinal Mooney High School in Rochester, NY and graduated Summa Cum Laude in Physical Therapy from Ithaca College, NY.
After graduating college, she lived in Warwick, NY, where she began her private practice. A gifted pediatric physical therapist, she worked with Winslow Therapeutic Riding, LTD and initiated a developmental approach in the use of the movement of the horse to create functional changes in individuals with disabilities. In 1978 she began teaching seminars, and in 1982 traveled to Denmark as the PT with the US NASCP Equestrian Team to compete in the 5th International CP Games. Called the “grandmother of Hippotherapy” by her colleagues, Barbara was instrumental in fostering the creation of the American Hippotherapy Association (AHA) and the furtherance of the use of the horse in treatment by physical, occupational and speech therapists. She was the recipient of the NARHA James Brady Professional Achievement Award and the perpetual Barbara Glasow Award for AHA Therapist of the Year.
Barbara was the PT and a former Board Member for Equi-librium, Inc. Equine Assisted Services. She was a member of Zion United Church of Christ in Stroudsburg, the American Physical Therapy Association, NARHA, and AHA.
She is survived by her partner of 23 years, Patricia J. Sayler, of Effort, PA, her father, Robert A. Glasow, her brother Timothy Glasow and his wife Maryann, her sister Andrea Glasow, her nephew, Jason Glasow and fiance Stephanie Ewert.
A Celebration of Barbara’s life will be held at 2:30pm on Sunday, June 14 at Zion United Church of Christ, 14 North 8th Street, Stroudsburg, PA with fellowship to follow after the service.
In remembrance of Barbara, memorial donations may be made to Equi-librium, Inc., P.O. Box 305, Sciota, PA 18354, Zion United Church of Christ, 14 North 8th Street, Stroudsburg, PA 18360 or American Hippotherapy Association, Inc. 9919 Towne Road Carmel, Indiana 46032. Condolences may be made online at www.poconorecord.com.