HOUSE RESOLUTION EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF THE HONORABLE BARBARA BALCH COLT

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF THE HONORABLE BARBARA
BALCH COLT

Introduced By:
Representatives Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Shanley, Ajello, Chippendale,
Fellela, Tanzi, Fogarty, McNamara, and Bennett

Date Introduced:
January 15, 2026

Referred To:
House read and passed
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WHEREAS, It is with deep sadness that this House has learned of the passing of the
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Honorable Barbara Balch Colt, a longtime and distinguished feminist, activist and community
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leader. She was the beloved wife of Timothy Pickering Colt for 67 years; and
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WHEREAS, Barbara Balch Colt was born in Utica, New York, the daughter of Richard
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and Elizabeth Balch. She attended the public schools in Utica, New York, and then proceeded to
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attend the Emma Willard School in Troy, New York, graduating in 1953, and later Mt. Holyoke
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College, graduating in 1957. She married the love of her life, Timothy Pickering Colt, in 1958
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and together they settled in Warwick in 1966, when Tim accepted a position with the then
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Providence Journal—Bulletin. Barbara, while having four young children, completed her studies
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in Urban Planning at the University of Rhode Island; and
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WHEREAS, Barbara Balch Colt had always been interested in and deeply involved in
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community affairs, public service and politics. In 1972, she won a seat on the Warwick City
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Council, representing a mostly Republican Ward. During her four-year tenure, she was the only
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woman on the Warwick City Council and served her constituents with passion and abiding
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integrity. She was widely respected by her peers and the press, with the Warwick Beacon
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describing her as being the Council’s “Fiscal Watchdog”; and
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WHEREAS, After leaving office, Barbara remained active in politics. She was well
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ahead of her time with her vigorous and passionate support of women’s rights, reproductive
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freedom, gender equity and LGBTQ+ rights. Barbara was an early supporter of the National

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Women’s Political Caucus and later sat on the Board of the 2:1 Coalition to Preserve Choice and
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Planned Parenthood of Rhode Island, serving as the President of Planned Parenthood for several
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years. Recently, Barbara had devoted much of her time serving as a mentor and advisor to The
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Womxn Project, whose mission is to secure reproductive freedom, gender equity, and LGBTQ+
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rights in Rhode Island; and
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WHEREAS, Barbara Balch Colt also passionately believed in providing affordable health
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care and housing for all people. She served as the Executive Director of the Rhode Island
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Community Health Centers and worked nonstop to create the Neighborhood Health Plan of
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Rhode Island, a not-for-profit health maintenance organization. Barbara also served on the Board
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of the Women’s Development Corporation for more than thirty years, serving at times as its
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Treasurer. Barbara also served with distinction on the Rhode Island Coastal Resources
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Management Council and on the Board of Directors of Butler Hospital; and
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WHEREAS, In her free time, Barbara enjoyed traveling widely with her husband Tim.
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She particularly enjoyed going to the beach and making a stop for some ice cream. She read
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voraciously and loved knitting, but few things made her happier than spending time with her
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grandchildren and knitting sweaters and holiday hats for them. She also joined the Handicraft
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Club, later served as its Treasurer, and loved sharing with family and friends her painted and
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stenciled works and needlepoint creations. Barbara also appreciated live theatre and attending
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Rhode Island Philharmonic concerts. Most importantly, Barbara was a devoted wife, mother,
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grandmother, sister and a great friend to many; and
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WHEREAS, Barbara Balch Colt leaves behind her husband, Tim, her children, Elizabeth
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Colt and her husband, Kent Fields, Cynthia Colt and her husband, Sid Fernando, Timothy P. Colt,
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Jr. and his wife, Lisa Sherman Colt, and Jonathan B. Colt. She also leaves behind her brother
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Richard H. Balch, Jr., and his wife, Judy, six grandchildren, Nicholas and Sarah Colt, Joseph
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Fernando, Chase, Maximilian and Cary Fields, and four great-grandchildren. She was
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predeceased by her grandson, Johnny Fernando, her brother James Balch and her sister, Cynthia
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Barns; now, therefore be it
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RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby
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expresses its deepest condolences to the Balch Colt Family on the passing of the Honorable
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Barbara Balch Colt; and be it further
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RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to
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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mr. Timothy Pickering Colt and Family.
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