Barbara McCormack Stecher died September 4, 2012 in Annapolis, Maryland at the age of 85. Barbara was born in La Jolla, California on August 2, 1927 to Ruth Naomi (Skelley) McCormack and Herbert David McCormack. She graduated from San Diego State College in 1949 and married naval officer Robert Wesley Stecher in 1950. Together, she and Bob raised their children Robert Jr., Elizabeth, and Linda. Always interested in art, Barbara started formal art lessons in 1958. She earned a B.A. in art from Old Dominion University in 1968 and then a Master's degree in art history from American University in Washington, DC. Barbara put her art training to good use including: teaching middle school art, acting as a docent at the Philadelphia Museum of Modern Art, lecturing on a wide variety of art and art history topics, planning and leading art-related tours, volunteering and then working for the DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park in Lincoln, MA. Her relationship with DeCordova lasted over 25 years and involved a wide variety of activities and responsibilities. While at DeCordova she developed the Sketchbooking technique about which she lectured extensively, taught classes at the DeCordova school, and published a successful book by that title in 2001. Between sketchbooking and the "watercolor for travelers" class she also taught at DeCordova, Barbara inspired many people both to travel and to chronicle their adventures through sketch journals. Barbara and Bob loved to travel and did so extensively. Barbara's adventures covered over 72 countries, all seven continents, and 49 of the 50 United States including every major national park. She continued to travel even after Bob's death in 1995, her last overseas trip being to the Middle East in 2010. Barbara and Bob also found adventure in their own backyard as they created walking paths through the woods on their property in Lincoln, MA and hung hammocks in a clearing, converting it to a campsite-like area for outside picnics. They also taught their grandchildren how a couple of hoses can turn New England rocks into a wonderful play area with "waterfalls" and small pools. They were truly happy both at home and abroad. Barbara is survived by three children, seven grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. Service: Service and burial was in Lincoln Cemetery, Lincoln, MA.