Barbara C. McLaughlin, 81, of Heritage Village, Southbury, CT, formerly of Portsmouth, a former Portsmouth Town Council president and School Committee member, died Feb. 24, 2013, following a brief illness.

Barbara was the daughter of the late John J. Connor Jr. and Margaret Clark Connor.

She was pre-deceased by her husband William P. McLaughlin, and is survived by sons John McLaughlin and his wife Wendy of Westlake Village, CA, and Robert McLaughlin and his wife Donna of Brewster, NY. Barbara is also survived by grandchildren Connor, Taylor and Sophie.

Barbara graduated from Deering High School in Portland, ME; Middlebury College in Middlebury, VT; and attended graduate school at George Washington University in Washington, DC.

After college, Barbara was employed as an analyst at the National Security Agency at Fort Meade, MD. 

After settling in Portsmouth, Barbara became active in local politics.

She was elected to the Portsmouth School Committee in 1976, serving as chairwoman from 1978 to 1980, and to the Portsmouth Town Council in 1988, 1990, and 1992, serving as president from 1992 to 1994.

Barbara also served on the Zoning Board of Review, and was elected to and served as moderator on the Portsmouth Water Board from 1995 to 1998.

Barbara moved to Southbury, CT, in 1999, and soon became active in local politics. She was appointed to the Southbury Board of Selectmen in 2004 and successfully ran for election to the board in 2005 and 2007. Barbara also served as president of the Heritage Village Republican Club.

Her funeral will be held on Saturday, March 2, from the Connors Funeral Home at 10 a.m. to St. Barnabas Church, 1697 East Main Road, for a 11 a.m. Mass. Burial will follow at Trinity Cemetery in Portsmouth. 

In Portsmouth, calling hours will be held on Friday, March 1, from 3 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at Connors Memorial Funeral Home. 

In Woodbury, calling hours will be from 3 to 6 p.m. on Feb. 27 at the Munson -Lovetere Funeral Home, 2 School St., with a ceremony at 5:30 p.m.