Barbara Ann Brimi

BRIMI, BARBARA ANN - of Knoxville, died peacefully at home on Friday, February 13, 2015, after battling pancreatic cancer for seven months. She was born in Minneapolis on December 22, 1946, to Dr. Robert and Hazel Brimi. Barbara was a life long educator and loved working with people. She always said that her students kept her young. Her passion for student success and her knack for showing people the possibilities that could be unlocked through nothing more than their own potential was inspiring. Barbara graduated from Knoxville Catholic High School in 1964. She received her undergraduate and master's degrees from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 1968 and 1969 in physical education. She was a member of the the Lady Vols basketball team (1965 - 1968) and Alpha Delta Pi sorority. She was a life long member of the National Intramural and Recreational Sports Association where she served in numerous leadership roles including vice president of Region VI. After college, she moved to Austin and worked at the University of Texas at Austin in a variety of roles in recreational sports for 31 years. In 2001 she returned to Knoxville where she went to work for South College and became vice president of institutional effectiveness and student services. She was involved in numerous groups and organizations in which she formed lasting bonds. From helping to create the Tappers, to playing in the Senior Olympics with the Smokey Mountain Mamas to volunteering in a variety of capacities at church. She was committed to her children, family, and friends; indeed there was nobody that gave more unconditionally of herself than Barbara. She was a caring and charismatic woman who had a gift for making people feel special. She was well known for her "Barbara-isms" and incredible sense of humor and warm smile. She liked to play practical jokes like calling her parents and pretending to be a telemarketer or getting off a plane to visit her children wearing a crazy hat or outfit. She also enjoyed sending cards and personal notes and loved celebrating holidays. Barbara was a loving mother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend. She is preceded in death by her father, Dr. Robert Brimi; her brother, William Francis Brimi; her nephew, Thomas Sever Rhinehart; uncle, Father Thomas Kaiser; aunt, Carrie Fardette; and aunt/godmother, Magdalene Pech. She is survived by her son, Jeff C. Moffitt of Dallas; and her daughter, Jill Moffitt of Asheville and their families; mother, Hazel Catherine Kaiser Brimi; brother, John and wife Betty; brother, Robert and wife Connie; brother, Paul; sisters, Mary Kay and Elizabeth; sister, Carol and husband Robert Rhinehart, Jr.; sister, Patricia and husband Thomas Janney; her brothers and sisters-in-law, David and Penny Moffitt, Steve and Adrienne Moffitt, Chris Moffitt, Cindy Moffitt, and Janis Machado; nephews and nieces, Ben and Lore Mandrell, Hunter and Carrie Brimi, William, Brian and Catherine Perkins, Sara and Jason Ogle, Robert Rhinehart lll, Michael and Michelle Rhinehart, Caroline and Michael Hooper, Amy, Jane, Kent, Kendall and Sara Moffitt, Tami and Robert Pimentel, Stephen B. Moffitt, Shana and Blake Herman, Ryan and Melissa, Katy, Kelly, and Robert Moffitt, Miguel and Tiffany Machado, Brenna Machado, Daniel Moffitt; great nieces Kerrigan and Anna Mandrell, Madison Moffitt, Maya Machado; great nephews, Ethan Pimentel, Stephen M. Moffitt, Brody Moffitt, Grayson Mills, and James Herman. In addition, Barbara leaves behind numerous life long friends including Jan Boykin, Bonner Brown, Ginger Gier and family, Tish Latham and family, Sandy McGranahan and family, Anne E. Walker and family, and countless others. The family wishes to thank South College for all the support they provided during Barbara's illness and for all of the friendships she developed there. There are not enough words to express the gratitude for everything. The Mass of Resurrection will be held 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, February 17, 2015 at The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus with Father Joe Reid officiating. The family will receive friends from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m., Monday, February 16, followed by a Christian Prayer service and the saying of The Rosary at Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel. The family is in the process the establishing a scholarship fund in Barbara's honor. Online condolences may be extended at www.rosemortuary.com. Arrangements by Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel.

Tributes

Barbara Ann Brimi

December 22, 1946 - February 13, 2015