Barbara Cone

EDITOR’S NOTE: A church community is created when people gather together for the love of God. At the same time, Saint Philip’s is comprised of many people who represent different ages, life experiences, and world views.

The “In conversation…” series is one attempt to create possibilities for connection between the different people in our community. As varied as we all are, there are also similarities and mutual interests waiting to be discovered. And there is one thing we all share: a desire to know God and be in relationship with him.

This week’s conversation is with parishioner and volunteer Barbara Cone.

How long have you worshiped at Saint Philip’s?
Since 2009. A dear friend of mine was a staff singer here and she invited me to attend.

Are you from Tucson?
No. I was raised in Los Angeles. Before moving to Tucson I lived in Australia because I worked at the University of Melbourne.

Were you raised in a faith tradition?
Yes. My parents were very involved in the Lutheran church.

How did you find your way to the Episcopal church?
It was a combination of serendipity and good fortune. My first exposure to the Episcopal church was as an undergraduate. I belonged to the Lutheran Student Group and we met and worshiped with students from the Episcopal Student Group.

When I moved to Dallas, Texas, my apartment was next to St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church. I attended because it was convenient and discovered the parish’s fabulous music program. The church building was very fancy—something that Lutheran churches (at least back then) weren’t. I joined the choir and the rest is history.

What about Saint Philip’s appeals to you?
As a chorister, I have to start with the wonderful music program. But equally as important is the superb preaching. And I also appreciate how parishioners are really encouraged to take on the work of the parish. There are opportunities for leadership, for being part of something greater than yourself, and working for the greater good. The outreach we have to the wider Tucson community is something I am proud of.

How would you describe Saint Philip’s to someone unfamiliar with the parish?
It depends on the person and what I think they would be interested in. So I would say it’s a beautiful sanctuary, campus, and setting. You feel something just by being on the campus.

Then there is the worship service. The liturgy has a high standard in all its different aspects. I particularly love the fact that we are multi-generational. I feel a sense of joy watching the young people in positions of worship leadership. It’s just great to see.

We’re big enough so we really do have something for everyone. We even have a pet ministry!

How are you involved in the parish?
I’ve been involved in different task forces over the years but right now I sing in the choir, serve on the Vestry, and am on the Strategic Planning Committee. I also assist with grant applications. I’ve done that in my professional life so am happy to help with that when needed.

For example, I recently worked on a Letter of Intent with Mtr Mary and Milo Meacham (Saint Philip’s Facilities Director). We are trying to have Saint Philip’s included in a big project by Interfaith Power & Light that would receive federal funding to improve the parish’s energy efficiency. We’re many steps from getting something but we’re working on it.

You’re very generous with your time. What prompts you to volunteer?
My parents modeled that it’s important to help. Being raised a Lutheran you hear, vocation! vocation! vocation! I was raised to be a busy little worker bee. And frankly, what church doesn’t need people to volunteer?

How does participating as a volunteer contribute to your spiritual growth?
I’ve been fortunate to always believe that volunteer work is an expression of faith so it seems very natural to me to do that. And my experience is that others who volunteer are usually smart, engaged people and I find that quite stimulating.

What do you do professionally?
I’m a professor in the field of speech language and hearing sciences. I did a mixture of research and clinical work at Arizona State University, the University of Southern California, and Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, NY. But my main focus for the last 30 years of my career has been research and teaching.

What about the field excites you?
I’m fascinated by hearing and the brain. Why do we perceive things the way we do? How do we hear things? And as a musician, I have always been interested in music perception.

One of my first volunteer posts when I was a teenager was working with children who had severe brain injuries. The field of speech, language, and hearing sciences involves the brain, perception, learning, and rehabilitation. I pretty much decided at age 15 that this was the field I would enter.

What do you do for fun?
I love to power walk, swim, and ride my bike. Going to the movies is another favorite pastime—as is cooking.

My partner Scott Mason and I play renaissance music together and with others. We play the viola da gamba. The bass viol that I play looks (and sounds) like a cello but it is a “cousin” of the guitar, more so than the modern cello. 

What’s one of your super powers?
My optimism. Sometimes I wear rose-colored glasses but I am well-served by trying to put “the kindest construction on someone’s action” or trying to find some good in whatever someone does. What kernel of truth exists or what lesson can I learn from this situation? Both questions help me move forward.

What have I not asked that you would like readers to know?
Being involved with community work at the local level—like here at Saint Philip’s—helps me feel less despair about the situation in our country. The current Supreme Court rulings and the division in our country seem insurmountable. There are no easy fixes to the huge problems of climate change, poverty, and social injustice so I could easily feel overwhelmed.

What helps me is prayer and knowing that I am doing something to enact change with like-minded people. We need each other; no one can handle these issues alone. 

What’s a fun fact about you?
I have a twin sister named Carolyn who lives in Portland, Oregon, (and a younger brother who lives in Green Valley). 

Missed an interview? All previous interviews can be found on Saint Philip’s website under the “About Us” tab. Click here to visit that page.