Barbara Bradford Eschbach passed away on November 8, 2024, at the age of (almost) 74. She was born on November 9, 1950, the daughter of Paul and Jean Bradford,and grew up in New Orleans. She attended Tulane University, where she received a BFA in Painting, Ceramics, and Art History.

Barbara came to ASU in 1977, where she worked as Administrative Assistant for the Dean of the College of Architecture. In 1981 she moved to Computing Services, eventually becoming Director of IT Facilities and Resources Administration. She retired in 2006 but returned to ASU to serve for two years as Program Coordinator for Economic Affairs. She retired from ASU again in 2008.

While working at Computing Services Barbara played a key role in the planning for the Computing Commons building. She persuaded the building committee to set aside space for a Computing Commons Gallery, which became one of the first three exhibition spaces in the world specifically designed to support artists who use technology as their medium of creation. Barbara directed the gallery under the mentorship of the ASU Institute for Studies in the Arts.

After retirement, Barbara became active in the ASU Retirees Association, where she served as a Board member from 2011-2014, and chair of the Luncheons and Special Events committee from 2010 to 2015. She helped with events from time to time after that, most recently by organizing the highly successful 2023 Spring Luncheon at Friendship Village.

A video interview with Barbara is available on the ASU Retirees Association website.

Barbara continued her love of art, of New Orleans, and of traveling throughout her life. She and her partner Rick Wall took many international trips together. Barbara was also a talented musician, playing keyboards and also singing. Barbara had a wide circle of friends who will greatly miss her organizational ability, her sense of humor, and her love of life and peohttps://philanthropy,.mayoclinic.org/donateMCple.

Barbara is survived by her partner Rick Wall, her daughter Erin Wilcox, her grandson Lucas, her brothers Bert and Bruce Bradford, and her husband Darel Eschbach. She was preceded in death by her parents and by her son Ryan Powell. 

An open house celebration of Barbara’s life will be held on Saturday, December 7, at 1645 East Grand Canyon Drive, Chandler, Arizona 85249, beginning at 3 p.m. A memorial fund has been set up in honor of Barbara’s brave fight against multiple myeloma for continued research and education. You can dedicate you gift to Barbara by checking the box under the suggested gift amounts