Obituary: Barbara (Gulian) Sawyer

**Falmouth Community Mourns the Loss of Long‑Time Resident Barbara “Barb” Gulian Sawyer** Falmouth, Maine – On Sunday, September 18, 2026, the town of Falmouth said goodbye to one of its most beloved residents, Barbara “Barb” Gulian Sawyer, 93. The 93‑year‑old, who had spent most of her adult life in the area, passed away at her home after a short illness. She was known for her adventurous spirit, love of the outdoors, and dedication to community service. Sawyer’s life was marked by a series of passions that she carried well into her later years. A native of Newark, New Jersey, she moved to Maine with her family when she was a child, eventually settling in Buxton before making Portland’s Beacon Street her home for many years. In Falmouth, she and her husband Tom built a life that combined gardening, travel, and volunteerism. “She was a competitive swimmer in high school,” recalled a friend. “That was the one thing she excelled in, and she carried that competitive drive into every adventure she took.” The couple spent decades cultivating a garden at Gilsland Farm House, where Sawyer built rock walls and tended to a variety of plants. Her love of the outdoors led to frequent trips to the coast, including visits to Scarborough Beach, Kettle Cove, and the Grand Banks. She also enjoyed skiing, with memories of early days at Sugarloaf Mountain’s Winters Way trail and more recent trips to the Swiss resorts of Zermatt and Chamonix. A lifelong learner, Sawyer was known for her voracious reading habit. She collected books ranging from history and art to cookbooks and novels, and she often created travelogues that chronicled her journeys with photographs and souvenirs. Her children, Judy Lake (Carson) of Pawlet, Vt., and Andrew (Tisha) of Falmouth, have been left with a remarkable archive of 55 volumes that capture the family’s shared adventures. Sawyer’s civic engagement was as extensive as her travels. She served as a Cub Scout leader, was a member of the Falmouth Planning Commission, and sat on the board of The Maine Audubon Society. She also volunteered at Katherine Morrill Day Nursery, The Woman’s Exchange, and the United Way, and helped bring the Volvo Tennis Tournament to Portland. Her dedication to public service earned her the admiration of many in the community. In her final weeks, Sawyer’s caregivers, led by Zoe and earlier by Ester, focused on keeping her “fun and getting Mom out of the house!” They supported her in maintaining the joy of daily life, from lunch outings to farmers‑market visits and movie nights. After a short stay at Andwell Hospice and care at Maine Medical Center, Sawyer returned to her home in Falmouth to spend her final days in her sunroom, a setting she had long cherished. “All she wanted was to get home to her sunroom to die as she wished,” her family said. Sawyer was preceded in death by her parents, Dorothy Young and Grasse Gulian, who had immigrated from Armenia in 1906, and her siblings Pat Gulian, Judy Switzer, Bob Gulian, and Marylou. Her children and grandchildren, including grandsons Duncan, Morgan, Alden, and Jack, remember her fondly for the warmth she brought to family gatherings, particularly at her favorite breakfast spots in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. A Celebration of Life will be held in the spring, and family members are inviting friends and neighbors to share memories. Condolences and tributes can also be posted online at . Sawyer’s life story serves as a reminder of the impact one individual can have through curiosity, generosity, and community involvement. The town of Falmouth will remember Barbara Gulian Sawyer as a spirited, compassionate, and adventurous soul who touched many lives during her 93 years.