Barbara R. Deschaine, 89, passed away peacefully on September 18, 2019.  Barbara was born on February 16, 1930 to George and Dora (Manchester) Ralph in Syracuse, New York.  As a teenager, she won many beauty contests, including Miss Syracuse and Snow Queen.  Nominated to compete in the national Miss America Contest, she decided instead to continue in college graduating in 1952 as a triple major, Phi Beta Kappa, from St. Lawrence University, in Canton, NY. She married Olav B. Kollevoll whom she met at St. Lawrence and together they raised a family in Canton, and later in Hamilton, NY and Easton PA.

Barbara was a very successful real estate broker and woman business owner.  She started her career at Brose Realty of Easton in 1967.  She completed post graduate work in real estate sales, financing, appraisal, theory, practice and real estate law at Penn State's satellite Allentown PA campus in 1972.  She was a GRI Designee graduate from the Pennsylvania Realtors Institute in 1973 and a CRB (Certified Residential Broker) Designee graduate from the Realtors National Marketing Institute in 1975.  Barbara became the Associate Broker and Manager for Brose Realty in 1972 and later acquired the company becoming Broker Owner of Brose Realty from 1974 to 1985.  Barbara concluded her career working as Broker Manager for John Monaghan Realtors from 1985 to 1991, and for Prudential Paul Ford Realtors as Associate Broker from 1991 to 1999.

Barbara demonstrated outstanding leadership skills in the communities she served.  She became the first female President of the local Easton Area Chamber of Commerce in 1977, a position held by no other women prior, in Easton or in the State of Pennsylvania.  Barbara was heavily involved with this chamber serving on its board of directors and on various committees like organizational improvement and economic development helping the Easton business community greatly.

Other notable achievements include a "Realtor of the Year" award in 1978 by The Lehigh Valley Association of Realtors (formerly Eastern Northampton County Area Board of Realtors), serving there as President in 1972; Secretary 1977; Vice President 1980-81 and on their board of directors from 1973 to 1987.  Barbara held a State Chairwoman position in 1980 for Homes for Living Network.  In 1982 she received a "Distinguished Sales Award" from The Easton Area Chapter of The Sales and Marketing Executives (SME) association while also serving on their board of directors and their first appointed woman director from 1976 to 1991.  Barbara also served as President for the Northampton County Multiple Listing Service (MLS) in 1986, while on their board of directors from 1987 to 1991.

Barbara was a member and advocate for the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE); The Pennsylvania Association of Realtors where she served on state convention and grievance committees; and the National Association of Realtors.  She also served on the Northampton County Revenue Appeals Board from 1982 to 1998 where she also served as Co-Chairwoman.  She served as President of the Lafayette College Adrienne Club and the Colgate University's Women's Club.

Barbara was one of the first of many women to break the glass ceilings in many areas of business as women worked their way into business life previously dominated by men. She achieved these milestones through her hard work and determination.  It was all about the delivery of excellent results that helped her rise to the levels of leadership amid her peers, among both men and women alike.  She did not ask to be treated as an equal.  She just lived out her life as one.

The other hallmark that was pervasive throughout Barbara's life was her ability to care for others, to show them how much she cared and to follow through on her compassion and love for others as demonstrated through her life's education, working career, and throughout her family life.

Later in life, and into retirement, she became a fan of the arts and an advocate for our youth.  She served as a Trustee for the Easton Area YMCA (Women's Alliance) from 1984 to 1991.  Barbara acted as a founding member, director and financial supporter of the revitalization project involving the State Theatre for the Arts, also serving on its board of directors there from 1994 until 2002.  She was an avid collector of Lusterware and loved her plants that were decorated throughout her home.  Barbara enjoyed cooking, card games, reading and spending quality time with her family and friends. She adored her two cats Gus and Max, always showering them with love and attention.

She is survived by her life companion of 25 years, Stanley B. (Stan) Smullen, III, three sons, Olav Jr., Kristan and Eric Kollevoll, grandchildren Steffan and Kennett Kollevoll, Annika and Annelise Kollevoll and Kiersten and Jenna Kollevoll, her Ralph nieces, nephew and grand nephews, as well as many other loving family members.  In addition to her parents, her brother John and Sister-In-Law Gretchen, she is pre-deceased by her late husbands Olav B. Kollevoll and Bernard R. "Bud" Deschaine.  She is also survived by many children and grandchildren through her former marriage to Bud and through her loving relationship with Stan.

A family service to honor her life is private, however they would like to invite her many friends and family to a "Celebration of Life" gathering at Normandy Farm Hotel and Conference Center, Silo Ballroom, 1401 Morris Rd., Blue Bell, PA  19422 on November 2, 2019 from 12 noon to 3 pm.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Barbara's honor to The State Theatre Center for the Arts, 453 Northampton St, Easton, PA 18042.