Legacy Donor: Barbara Mathewson
By Appaswamy “Vino” Pajanor
In the non-profit world, one of the more saddening but equally righteous forms of support we can receive comes in the form of bequests and trusts. These generous contributions result from selfless donors whose lives were devoted to a spirit of giving, love, and compassion.
It is always my hope that when I am told by a donor that they wish to put Catholic Charities in their will, I will never witness that money coming to our agency. It is my belief that supportive prayer and constant advocacy in life will always outweigh the impact of monetary donations.
Nonetheless, we do feel the significance of the fruition of trust, and each day my prayers go to the families and souls of those who support us through their lives and as they enter the kingdom of God.
Catholic Charities exists to uplift those in need through the principles of love, affection, and warmth, which is why I write today about the impact Barbara Wark Mathewson had in her life.
Born in Los Angeles, Barbara was raised in a turbulent life, moving many times. Barbara’s early life gave birth to the start of her ability to adapt and her passionate values of overcoming hard circumstances.
Moving from place to place, she was taught by many different teachers and was shaped by each one. Her second-grade teacher supported her self-esteem, and the Dominican Nuns who, in Junior High, taught her love.
She was a stewardess with Pan Am Airlines, and her role impacted her hearing. Barbara hardly viewed this as a disservice; instead, it caused her to listen intently to others, to lean towards speaking in Spanish, and to lead with curiosity, asking many questions as she conversed with others.
Barbara had a drive to succeed when she met individuals who gave her the same love and trust she imparted on others. Barbara attended San Jose State College, graduating with a Bachelor’s in Education after having been crucially impacted by many teachers throughout her youth.
She went on to receive a Master of Arts in Educational Psychology from California State University, Long Beach, and pursued doctoral studies in Clinical Psychology at United States International University.
Barbara’s passion went far beyond her educational pursuits. She served on the Board of Directors for the National Council of Alcoholism, supporting countless individuals as they recovered from addiction to alcohol, and compassionately worked with Adult Children of Alcoholics and Alcoholics Anonymous for 28 years.
She was passionate about culture and language learning: teaching at schools in La Paz, Mexico, developing bilingual education and support programs, running international travel agencies, and residing in Boquete, Panama.
In spite of a less than perfect upbringing, Barbara lived a full and loving life. She renovated and rehabilitated countless properties, supported her friends and family, loved sailing, the ocean, travel, and adventure.
Barbara was dedicated to her sobriety, sponsoring many women she had met through her service in addiction programs. Her spirituality, love, and outlook on life supported countless women.
This love and compassion reached us at Catholic Charities when she began volunteering at Rachel’s Programs. Consisting of Rachel’s Women’s Center, Rachel’s Night Shelter, and Rachel’s Promise, this interconnected care continuum serves women who are unhoused as they overcome addiction, hardship, and mental health difficulties.
In the eyes of the women at Rachel’s Programs, Barbara saw those she had helped through the many other addiction programs she served at, as well as her own mother, who had many hardships of her own.
It was Barbara’s compassion and deep understanding of the affects that an uneasy life can have on people that allowed her to bring compassionate care to each and every person she helped. She served with the critical knowledge that when you are at your lowest, what you need most is a helping hand.
Her friends described her as a force of nature, an angel, and a spiritual guide until the very end.
In her trust, Barbara left Catholic Charities well over a million dollars, but she truly left us much more than that. Money is a necessary and selfless form of support, but Barbara’s most profound impact was the way in which she lived her life and the impact her story has had on me and my team.
Her life was an embodiment of the Matthew 25 mission, which I aspire to live out every day that I serve as the guide for Catholic Charities. Barbara lived these passages of the bible, “…for I was hungry and you gave me something to eat… I was a stranger and you invited me in”, vibrantly.
Barbara writes in an autobiographical essay that she cries easily but laughs just as easily, that she is gregarious, has gusto for life, and has a great love of people. Her friends’ handwritten letters of remembrance serve as physical reminders of the love she gave to everyone she met and the love she imparted to us at Catholic Charities.
Barbara would have turned 84 on October 8, 2025. The legacy she leaves behind will continue to uplift and empower countless women at Rachel’s for years to come.
I feel blessed to receive a part of her story, to flip through pages of her life, and read her words. Barbara Wark Mathewson will live in the hearts of Catholic Charities for many years to come, just as she will live with all those she loved: which, based upon her own words, was everyone.