Obituary: Barbara Ann Bougie, 91, Of West Hartford

From Taylor & Modeen Funeral Home

Barbara Ann Bougie passed away peacefully in West Hartford on March 9, 2018. She was 91 years old.

Barbara was born in Syracuse, New York to Gertrude (Couch) Van Ornam and John Van Ornam on October 19, 1926. At the age of 18 she went to New York City where she excelled as an actress. She graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts at Carnegie Hall. She was a member of the Barter Theatre Group where she worked with the likes of Ernest Borgnine. Charles Nelson Reilly and Don Rickles were also in her circle of friends. Additionally, she was a member of the Gateway Stock Players which Eleanor Roosevelt referred to as “the official international theater of the United Nations.”

Barbara studied under Uta Hagen who was a highly influential acting teacher at Berghof Studio and who authored best-selling acting texts. Barbara also had a regular role in a daily radio soap opera for two seasons.

In 1953 Barbara replaced Peggy Cass on Broadway in the play Bernadine and received outstanding reviews. She was in too many plays to mention but some of the most notable are: My Sister Eileen, You Can’t Take it With You, Blithe Spirit, The Glass Menagerie, The Philadelphia Story, and Arsenic and Old Lace. Barbara retired from acting and in December of 1956 married Roger, the love of her life.

While Roger was in the service they lived in Florida, Texas and New Mexico. Once he left the military they moved to Boston, MA; Washington, D.C. and then settled in West Hartford, CT. Barbara endeared herself to neighbors and residents of the town with acts of kindness and offers of help. She enjoyed Cape Cod and Tanglewood in the Berkshires. Barbara leaves her devoted husband of 61 years, Roger M. Bougie.

For more information and to leave online condolences, visit Taylor & Modeen Funeral Home here.

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