December 26, 1952—January 4, 2025

With sad hearts we announce the death of Barbara Cone who died at home in Tucson on Saturday, January 4, 2025.

All are invited to the funeral for Barbara at 3:00pm on Saturday, February 1, at Saint Philip’s, as well as the reception that will follow in the Murphey Gallery.

O God, whose mercies cannot be numbered: Accept our prayers on behalf of your servant Barbara, and grant her an entrance into the land of light and joy, in the fellowship of your saints; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
—The Book of Common Prayer, Burial of the Dead, Rite II

Barbara Katherine Cone, born December 26, 1952 in Santa Monica, CA, died in her home in the presence of her loving partner, Scott Mason, in the early morning hours of January 4, 2025, in Tucson, AZ.

Barbara was raised in Southern California with her twin sister, Carolyn, and younger brother, Jeffrey. The family moved from Inglewood, CA to Fullerton, CA in 1965, where she attended Wilshire Jr High and Fullerton Union High School, graduating with many scholastic and musical awards in 1970. She continued her academic career at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she attained her BA and MA in Speech and Hearing Sciences in 1975. She was accepted into the Communications Disorders PhD program at University of Texas (Dallas) where she earned her doctorate In 1979.

Her career in academia was long and distinguished. Her first assistant professorship was at Arizona State University (1979 – 1981). She then joined the faculty at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University where she was assistant professor until 1985. She pursued the opportunity to return to her Southern California roots as assistant/associate professor and Chief of Audiology, USC School of Medicine and Los Angeles County USC Medical Center for ten years. In 1995 she was named to the Beth Smallwood Chair in Audiology in the School of Audiology at the University of Melbourne, Australia. She returned to the US and joined the faculty of the University of Arizona Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences in 2001, and was made full professor in 2007. She retired from the University of Arizona in January 2024. Her professional accolades and awards were numerous. She was a nationally and internationally distinguished professor, scientist, mentor and friend to many.

Barbara had a lifelong passion for music, dance and the arts. She was a skilled percussionist, and studied piano for 10+ years, as well as the French horn. In the past decade, she immersed herself in learning to play the viola da gamba, and spent many joyful hours with her partner Scott and other early music aficionados to study and perform in this community.

Since early adulthood, she attended and contributed to many Episcopal parishes in the United States, Australia and New Zealand. She had been an active member of the St. Philip’s in the Hills Episcopal Church community, serving on the vestry, singing in the choir, grant-writing and other endeavors.

She is survived by her twin sister, Carolyn Cone, her brother, Jeffrey Cone, nephew Zachary (Zach) Brown his wife, Molly and niece and nephew Cyril (Cy) Brown and Anna Brown, nephew Andrew (Drew) Brown, and other loving members of the Brown family. Her partner, Scott Mason and his family grieve with us, and also celebrate her life of faith and joy.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the University of Arizona Foundation or Saint Philip’s in the Hills Episcopal Church.