SOMERS, N.Y. - School crossing guard for nearly 40 years. Boy Scout troop founder and leader. Unwavering presence at every Veterans Day commemoration or important town event. Women of Distinction Hall of Fame inductee. Supporter of local firefighters. Person of faith. Wife. Mother. Grandmother.
Thelma Barlow was all of these things and so much more, according to the Somers folks mourning her recent passing at 94.
She was such a cornerstone of the community that last year the town honored her public service by naming a pedestrian crossing for her. It’s not far from the spot where Barlow had once safely ushered thousands of local kids across busy Route 202.
Among those sharing remembrances on Friday, Feb. 20, were Somers Town Board members Gina Arena, Bill Faulkner, Rich Clinchy, and Tony Cirieco, as well as Scoutmaster Steve LoBasso of Troop 228, granddaughter Alexa Barlow, and the Rev. Mike Thomas, priest-in-charge at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Granite Springs, where Barlow was a congregant.
Here’s what they said.
ARENA
“One of our Somers treasures passed away this morning, Thelma Barlow! God bless her soul. On a personal level, my condolences to the entire Barlow family. You are good and dear friends and I love you,” Arena said in an online post.
“Thelma's years of dedication to Somers shine through her sign at the crosswalk by DeCicco’s. As we will all remember her as the crossing guard at the middle school. The list of accolades, as well as serving our country, are immeasurable.
Thank you beautiful soul for sharing your 94 years with all of us in Somers.”
Barlow was “such a special person,” Arena told Halston Media later.
CIRIECO
Cirieco recalls with fondness the time Barlow “recruited” him into volunteering for the Boy Scouts.
This was before the now longtime councilman and former school board trustee had gotten into public service.
He demurred, citing a lack of time.
That didn’t deter Barlow.
Before Cirieco knew it, she was backing up his driveway with a trunk full of Scout stuff.
“It will be fun,” she promised.
“She didn’t give me an option,” Cirieco joked. “That was that.”
They became lifelong friends.
CLINCHY
“I am so sorry to hear of Thelma’s passing. She was an institution in Somers for her work as a crossing guard and as a Scout leader,” Clinchy said in a text.
“It seems like generations of people have grown up in Somers knowing Thelma and sharing stories of her no-nonsense safety-first approach to caring for kids under her watchful eye. It may not have been considered a glamorous job by some, but nobody could deny that Thelma was a true professional in everything that she did for Somers.”
FAULKNER
Barlow’s life was a life well-lived, said Faulkner, noting that her “commitment to the town was unparalleled.”
Present at the 2025 dedication of the “Thelma Barlow Crossing,” he recalled that whenever he was driving to work or was dropping one of his kids off at school, he always noticed Barlow’s demeanor as she stopped traffic and carefully guided students across the busy road.
“If you know Thelma, she takes her job and the kids’ security very, very seriously. She was always focused … and not necessarily smiling,” Faulkner had said.
He promised himself that one day he would give Barlow some flowers in the hopes that that would make her smile.
“I’m going to get to make good on that today,” he had added, clutching a small bouquet of brightly colored blooms at the ceremony.
“I’m so glad I got to do that when I had the chance,” Faulkner told Halston Media, offering his condolences to the Barlow family.
LOBASSO
According to LoBasso, Barlow was instrumental in getting Boy Scout Troop 228 “back on its feet” in the early 1980s.
She also was the founder and a beloved leader of Boy Scout Troop 376.
LoBasso first met Barlow when he was a “Webelo” in the Cub Scouts.
He remembers her hosting “merit badges” at her home.
Now Troop 228’s scoutmaster, LoBasso said he thought there have been about 118 Eagle Scouts (himself included) since then.
“It’s a great legacy,” he said of Barlow’s contributions.
“I’ve known her my whole life. She always represented Scouting and my youth to me. She will be deeply missed,” LoBasso said.
THOMAS
“Thelma was a beloved member of our church family and she will be dearly missed,” said Thomas in a text message.
ALEXA
Barlow’s granddaughter, Alexa, a member of the Somers Volunteer Fire Department since 2016, announced the death in a Facebook post.
“It’s with deep regret to share that the infamous Thelma Barlow has passed away this morning. I’d like to personally thank The Church of the Good Shepherd, The Somers Volunteer Fire Department, The Somers PBA, and The Grange for always honoring and noticing the hard work and sacrifices she’s made for the Town of Somers. Fly high my angel, say hi to dad and gramps.”
Barlow was pre-deceased by her husband, William Sr., and son, William Jr. or “Bill,” who were also firefighters.
ARRANGEMENTS
Arrangements are being handled by Clark Associates Funeral Home in Katonah. Details weren’t available on Saturday, Feb. 21.
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