Barbara Frush

Barbara A. Frush (also known as Barb, Barbie Doll, Aunt Barb, and Gigi), a devoted mother and grandmother, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 25, surrounded by those she loved at Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center, following complications of dementia. The daughter of Nancy Jean and Amos Cockrell and wife of Ron Frush, Barbara will be remembered first for the love, joy, and steadfast devotion she gave her family, and also for her distinguished life of public service and advocacy for the people and environment of Maryland.

 At the heart of Barbara’s life was her family. She was a loving and devoted mother to her daughters. She found immense joy in her role as grandmother and cherished every moment spent with her four beloved grandchildren. Whether attending celebrations, babysitting. cheering at dance performances, soccer, and lacrosse games, or simply spending time together, Barbara treasured the relationships she built with each of them.

 Barbara also deeply enjoyed the Calverton community and the many friendships she formed through the Calverton Swim Club, co-ed softball and volleyball. She treasured Sunday cookouts filled with family, friends, laughter, and good food, as well as traveling with her Party of 11 on memorable trips to Disney and Turks and Caicos. These joyful gatherings and adventures brought her tremendous happiness and created cherished memories for everyone who shared them with her. 

Barbara is survived by her daughters, Nicole Munro, widow of Brian Munro, and Lauren Jagtiani and her husband, Shajahan Jagtiani; and by her four grandchildren, Abigail, Isabella, Christopher, and Zachary, all of whom she loved beyond measure. 

She is also survived by her cherished extended family, Laurie and Paul Albrecht, whom she considered family in every sense of the word, and their children, Kyle, Cody, and Allie Albrecht. Barbara held a special place in her heart for each of them and treasured the love and memories they shared over the years. 

Beyond the family and the community she loved, Barbara dedicated much of her life to serving others. She began her career in politics working on Capitol Hill for then Michigan Congressman, James O’Hara. A lifelong Marylander, she was a community activist, and then in 1995, was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates. She represented Anne Arundel and Prince George’s Counties in the Maryland House of Delegates from 1995 until 2019, earning widespread respect for her integrity, compassion, and unwavering commitment to public service. During her twenty-four years in the General Assembly, she became one of Maryland’s most recognized environmental leaders, serving on and chairing key legislative committees focused on environmental protection, natural resources, transportation, and Chesapeake Bay preservation. She was a longtime leader of Maryland’s environmental movement and a champion for the Chesapeake Bay, clean air, clean water, sustainable communities, and responsible stewardship of Maryland’s natural resources. 

Barbara was especially proud of her leadership in the fight to pass Maryland’s landmark Clean Indoor Air Act, recognizing the importance of protecting public health for future generations. Throughout her legislative career, she was also a fierce advocate for women, children, families, seniors, and vulnerable Marylanders, working tirelessly to improve quality of life and expand opportunity across the state. Her colleagues knew her as a determined legislator, who never lost sight of the people behind the policies. 

Barbara will be remembered above all for the love she gave her family and friends—her smile and warmth, her kindness, strength, generosity, wisdom, and the joy she brought to their lives. Her legacy also lives on in the cleaner environment she helped protect, the countless Maryland families she served, and the causes she championed. 

A celebration of Barbara’s life will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Barbara’s memory be made to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, a cause that reflected her lifelong commitment to protecting Maryland’s treasured natural resources. 

Barbara’s presence will be deeply missed by her family, who were the center of her world, and by her many friends and colleagues. The love she shared, the memories she created, and her example of service and compassion will continue to inspire all who knew and loved her