Barbara Roswell

Dr. Barbara Roswell (née Sherr) died on Monday, one day shy of her 67th birthday.

Daughter of first grade teacher Edith Sherr and civil engineer Martin Sherr, Barbara grew up in New York City, where she graduated from Hunter College High School at age 15. Barbara matriculated to Yale University class of 1980, where she earned a BA in philosophy. She met her husband Robert (Bob) Roswell there; they married in 1983. Barbara earned an MA from NYU and a Ph.D. in rhetoric and composition from University of Pennsylvania. She taught writing and women's studies at Goucher College for 35 years from 1983 to 2018, where she founded a journal on service learning, Reflections, and later, the Goucher Prison Exchange Program, a college degree program in Maryland jails and prisons. Barbara authored books, book chapters, and scholarly articles, and served in leadership roles in Jewish organizations.

Barbara cared for many friends and relatives through the mundane and the extraordinary, through health, illness, and death. Barbara herself lived with brain cancer for over six years. In addition to her three children, Barbara helped raise her cousins Rue and Izzy Baildon. Barbara is survived by her mother Edith Sherr, her husband Bob Roswell, her children David Roswell and Maggie Heraty, Naomi Roswell, and Michael Roswell and Jackie Specht, and grandchild Orli Specht.

Funeral services will be held at Sol Levinson's (8900 Reisterstown Road Baltimore, MD 21208) on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at 2:00 pm. Shiva at Bob Roswell's home (9009 Alto Dale Farm Road, Baltimore MD 21208) Tuesday immediately following interment until 8:00 pm, with singing at 7:00 pm. Continuing Wednesday and Thursday, from 3:30 - 8:00 pm each day, with singing at 7:00 pm both nights. Shiva will continue on Sunday at Naomi's home in Philadelphia, PA and at David's home in Durham, NC. The family requests attendees avoid scents and perfumes; please do not bring flowers or sweets. To give a donation in her memory: https://advance.goucher.edu/register/GiveGPEP