Barbara J. (Brunig) Thomas

Barbara Thomas passed away in the early morning hours of July 3, 2025 with family by her side. She is greatly missed and won’t soon be forgotten.

Barb was born Barbara Janet Brunig on May 10, 1944 to William and Harriet (Scott) Brunig.  Barb and her four sisters, Kate, Linda, Candy, and Beth, were raised on South Broad Street in Norwich, New York. Barb grew up skiing with her dad, swimming in Canasawacta Creek, and riding her bike at breakneck speed down West Hill. Barb was raised in the Episcopal Church.  She was also a Girl Scout, a camp counselor, and a lifeguard. She attended Norwich High School, where she was a member of the National Honor Society, and graduated in 1962.

Barb went to Buffalo State College, from which she graduated in 1966 with a BA in History.  During college, she rented a room in an old house on West Ferry Street, where she once helped cook a late-night meal for Johnny Cash, and tripped over Harry Belafonte while he sat in a darkened stairwell petting her landlady’s Airedales.  She also spent a year abroad in Italy, where she picked up many endearing Italian expressions she would later say to her children (repeatedly).

After college, Barb began a career in advertising and moved to Syracuse, where she met Roland Thomas. Rollie and Barb wed in June 1968 and were married for 57 years. They lived initially on the east side of Syracuse before buying a (haunted?) homestead in Oneida. They extensively renovated the farmhouse and kept horses, cattle, Bedlington dogs, and eventually children. Daughter Holly was born in 1975, and son Jordan in 1979. Barb was a warm and loving mom with a smile that started in her eyes. She read her children memorable books, sang them silly songs, and was an enthusiastic Mouserciser.

In 1984, the family returned to Syracuse, where Barb continued her advertising career at Eric Mower and Associates.  Barb worked at Eric Mower for 35 years and ended her career as a senior partner. She was a hard-working, capable, creative, and respected colleague.  A recipient of the Athena Award, which acknowledged her outstanding work and empowerment of women in leadership, she also visited China as part of a professional outreach group.  Barb was active in the community, serving on the boards of Vera House, the Food Bank of Central New York, and the YMCA. Yet, for all her work and community involvement, Barb was also a full-time spouse and mom. She was late to bed and early to rise, seeing that the needs of her family were met. She had fun and taught lessons and occasionally hyperventilated. She was there for her family and wanted to be. Truly, truly a woman for others.

In 1987, Barb and Rollie bought a cottage on Kring Point on the St. Lawrence River. The River was always a part of Barb’s life and where she spent so many of her happiest days – swimming, kayaking, boating between the Canadian island parks, and eating strawberry shortcake while fireworks lit the sky over Boldt Castle. Picture Barb reading a book in a little rubber boat tied to a dock on a beautiful, sunny River day. Picture her looking up with a smile and saying, “Oh what time is it getting to be? I guess we should see about supper.”

Because the River was so special to Barb, in retirement she and Rollie decided to become year-round residents of Clayton. They bought a house on James Street and opened a shop called River Magic, which became a fixture of the community and a place that people came back to year after year. Barb had an “eye” and selected wonderful, handmade goods, whimsical objects and pieces of art that intentionally had no purpose other than to bring beauty and joy.  And Barb was a quintessential shopkeeper, greeting guests with a smile and a story, and carefully packing their purchases in purple tissue and ribbon. River Magic was magical because Barb put her heart into it, and that made others love it, too.

“Just” having River Magic wasn’t enough for Barb in her retirement, though. She volunteered at the Thousand Islands Art Center, walking schoolchildren from Clayton Elementary to TIAC for after school arts classes, and serving on the TIAC Board. She also volunteered with the Thousand Islands Land Trust, helping to build and take down tern-nesting sites and plant trees at Zenda Farms Preserve.  She loved her community and donated time, money, and energy to so many causes. All you had to do was ask – and the answer was almost always yes.

In 2013, Barb had one of the true joys of her life when her granddaughter Josie was born, followed in 2016 by granddaughter Sylvie. “Nana B.” adored Josie and Sylvie and their mom Callie and did so much to make their first years special. One snowy Christmas morning, Nana B. laid a path of stars from the Harbor Hotel to her house so Josie and Sylvie would know where Santa left their presents. She was a magical grandmother.

Through declining health over the last few years, Barb was brave and gracious, just as she was in life. We hoped, as she did, for more good years. We mourn the time we did not get but are at once thankful for so many good memories of laughter and smiles and comfort brought to us by Barb. We are also thankful that Barb has reunited with her parents and her sisters Kate and Candy, who she loved dearly.

The following people are still around and missing Barb a lot right now: Rollie, Holly, Jordan, Callie, Josie, Sylvie, Linda and Charlie Hanson, Beth and Andy Bergfjord, Tom Murphy (Kate), Rennie Russell (Candy), and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. There will be a ceremony of remembrance for Barb at Cummings Funeral Home in Clayton on August 23, 2025 at 10am. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Thousand Islands Land Trust or the Indian River Lakes Conservancy. Online condolences to her family may be posted at www.cummingsfuneral.com.

On Barb’s behalf, we ask that you do one thing that is beautiful and good, for yourself or someone else – it doesn’t matter which. In that moment, Barb will be there, and she will live in your memory of a good and beautiful thing. Then go see a movie. Barb loved the movies.

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