Official Obituary provided by family
Dr. Barbara Joseph Shircliffe, age 55, passed away suddenly on Friday, July 21, 2023, while biking a mountain trail in Asheville, North Carolina. Her husband, family, friends, cycling buddies and colleagues are sharing in the shock and grief that she has left this earth so young and unexpectedly, although they are finding some solace that she did so at her favorite spot, on a bike.
The youngest of four siblings, Barbara grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, the daughter of Montgomery Joseph Shircliffe and Carolyn Sue Daugherty, both deceased. She had a long and successful academic career graduating from St. James Catholic grade school (1982) and Mercy Academy (1986). While in high school, Barbara didn’t care much for “girlie” things, she preferred reading books on history and philosophy and listening to Genesis and Peter Gabriel. After high school, she moved to Chicago and graduated with a degree in History from DePaul University (1990) and then moved to New York to pursue her graduate studies at SUNY Buffalo. It was while in Buffalo that she became addicted to cycling, riding dunes of plowed snow during the winter and biking to Canada in the summer. She graduated from SUNY with her M.A. in American Studies and a Ph.D. in Social Foundations of Education.
In 1996, Barbara joined the College of Education at the University of South Florida (USF), Tampa, as an Assistant Professor of Social Foundations. Her research focused on southern school segregation and desegregation, oral history, and school policy. As she progressed in her career, Barbara also served in various administrative leadership positions including Program Coordinator for Social Foundations and, most recently, as Chair for the Department of Educational and Psychological Studies. In these roles, she was extremely dedicated to representing the faculty, staff, and students in her department; serving as a mentor; and in multiple academic and leadership roles across the college. Barbara loved teaching and was an advocate for student success. A member of the USF community for 27-years, Barbara shared her time and talents to make significant contributions that supported curriculum development, instructional leadership, and other important needs of the college at all levels. Barbara’s desire to see the best in everyone -- and to share knowledge about the barriers to fairness and justice in society -- guided her career.
In 2003 Barbara married the love her life, Clint Perigard who shared her passion for cycling. As committed as Barb was to her academic career and service to the USF community, what fed her soul was being on a bike. Over the last 20 years Barbara and Clint have cycled some of their favorite trails -- Jack Rabbit in North Carolina, the Ocoee in Tennessee and Flat Creek and Green Mountain near Blue Ridge, Georgia. Barbara leaves in sorrow her beloved husband of 20 years, Clint Perigard; her sister soulmate; Mary Jo Shircliffe, her loving and admiring brothers Joe Shircliffe and Mark Shircliffe (Cathy); two nephews Alexander and Matthew and a niece, Victoria.
She left this world with the love and admiration of hundreds of friends from the USF and the cycling communities who were touched by her beautiful soul.
As stated in the USF announcement of Barb’s passing, “We always will remember Barbara for her generosity, dedication, and wonderful sense of humor.” As one colleague stated, she was truly “one of a kind.”
Planning will begin soon for a memorial bike ride to be held later this year in Tampa in Barbara’s honor.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made payable to USF Foundation, Inc. in memory of Barbara Shircliffe to the Barbara Shircliffe Memorial Scholarship Fund and mailed to the Office of Donor Relations, 4202 E. Fowler Ave, ALC100, Tampa, FL 33620, Attn: Beth Corbin or online at https://usf.to/ShircliffeMemorialScholarship.