Barbara Mary Chimento

Barbara Chimento, 86, of Sacramento, California, passed away in her home surrounded by family on March 27, 2023. She is survived by her two children, Lisa Chimento and Beth (Chimento) Verhage, her son-in-law, Dewey Verhage, her two grandsons, Nick and Jack Verhage, and nieces, nephews and friends. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 24 years, Russell Louis Chimento, and her dearly missed sister and brother, Beatrice (Vujo) Merrick and Boris (Dave) Vujo.

Barbara was born on April 18, 1936, in Crosby, Minnesota. She was the youngest of three children born to Frances (Gabor) and Danilio Vujo. At the age of five, she moved with her family to Arizona where she earned a bachelor’s degree in education at the University of Arizona in Tucson in 1958. She taught elementary school in Arizona until, at age 25, she married her loving husband, Russell Chimento, and moved to California. After living a short time in Berkeley, they settled in Sacramento where they raised their two daughters.

Barbara started out as a teacher, but she soon earned her master’s degree in Education and began working as a school principal. This was her passion and her life’s work. She spent over 25 years managing Golden Empire Elementary School, Sam Brannan Junior High School, and Sutterville Elementary School in the Sacramento City Unified School District before retiring at the age of 60, a decade after Russell’s passing.  While principal, she became the first female member of the South Sacramento chapter of the Rotary Club.

Barbara loved tennis, travel, and spending time with family and friends. She toured Europe, Asia, South America, and the United States extensively in retirement, often accompanied by one of her children or her sister and brother-in-law. Both of her daughters live in the Sacramento area and were able to continue a close relationship with Barbara. Although she led a busy life, she found time to care for each of her grandchildren and maintain a close relationship with them through the years.  Barbara’s warmth, wit, and wisdom will be greatly missed.