MIDDLEBURY — Fleur Aylsworth Laslocky, a longtime resident of Middlebury, passed away on Jan. 15 at the age of 92. Fleur was born on Oct. 12, 1930, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Julia and Harold Aylsworth.

Fleur graduated from Cleveland Heights High School and briefly attended Ohio State University from 1948-50; she worked as a secretary at North American Aviation from 1951-56. While working at North American, Fleur reconnected with her long-distance teenage sweetheart, Russell Laslocky, whom she first met at her sixth birthday party. They were married in 1957. Shortly thereafter she continued her studies and graduated from Ohio State with a degree in English.

Russell and Fleur moved from Ohio to Riverside, N.J. in 1960. There, with Russell, she founded the Barn Arts Center, a renovated dairy barn that housed art classes and jazz concerts. The Barn Arts Center was one of her life’s chief delights. In 1968, Fleur, Russell, and their three children moved to Delaware, where they had a farm, and then in 1973, they moved to Shoreham, Vt., where they had a farm on Basin Harbor Road.

Fleur was deeply committed to education: She taught art classes at Shoreham Elementary School and then substitute taught at Middlebury Junior High School. In 1982, she joined the staff of Middlebury College, where she worked for over 20 years — first as a secretary in the Language Schools and then in Inter-Library Loan, where she loved working side-by-side with students from all over the world, many of whom became like family to her. While working at the College, she relished taking art history and studio art courses, particularly oil painting. She collected art books her entire adult life — her library of hundreds of books on art ranging from the caves of Lascaux to John Singer Sargent was her pride and joy; she insisted on having her collection with her even after she lost her eyesight.

As an avid gardener, Fleur was deeply fond of tiger lilies, paperwhites, and peonies; each winter she carefully planned her order from Burpee in order to create flower gardens that will be enjoyed by her loved ones for years to come. She was also devoted to her many pets and found great comfort in them as her health declined. Her love of cooking will always be remembered — particularly her Hungarian chicken paprikash and her affection for Julia Child.

Fleur is survived by her husband of 65 years, Russell Laslocky of Middlebury; daughter Jenna Laslocky of Middlebury; son Stephen Laslocky of Singapore; daughter Meghan Laslocky and grandson Henry Sprague of Oakland, Calif.; and beloved cats Joko and Lily, also of Middlebury.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Addison County Home Health and Hospice, 254 Ethan Allen Hwy, New Haven, VT 05472. ◊