Ginny Sanborn recalls Barbara Bush’s warm heart during visit here

LACONIA — Ginny Sanborn's chance meeting with Barbara Bush confirms what many have observed following the former First Lady's death on Tuesday – the wife of former President George H.W. Bush had a warm heart, a down-to-earth personality and a compassion for others.

Sanborn, owner of a Laconia auto repair business, recalled that a cousin from Lithuania, Julia Zardeckine, was in town in 1992 when Barbara Bush came to the Belknap Mall on a campaign swing before a presidential election that Bill Clinton would ultimately win.

The Berlin Wall fell on Nov. 9, 1989, while President Bush was in office. He and President Ronald Reagan were heroes to many in Eastern Europe.

Zardeckine, who was a teacher and spoke English fluently, was happy to go to the mall with Sanborn to see Barbara Bush. She brought a Lithuanian doll to give to the First Lady and made a sign reading, “Lithuanian-Americans for Bush.”

To their surprise, Barbara Bush reached out to them for a conversation.

Standing in the mall, Zardeckine, told the First Lady of difficulties people faced under Communist rule, including poverty and travel restrictions. As a teacher, she knew first-hand of the struggles of many of her students, and Bush was eager to listen.

“What a conversation,” Sanborn said. “Barbara Bush was fascinated to learn about Lithuania. She loved anything to do with kids, and she wanted to hear about their lives. It was really a down-to-earth experience and very memorable. She was like so ordinary, just like us, even though she was the First Lady. She was humble. Here is this woman in the middle of an election where every vote counted, and she was taking the time to listen to a woman who couldn't vote.”

Barbara Bush held Zardeckine's hand throughout the conversation and there were embraces all around when the 10-minute chat came to an end.

Sanborn said another surprise came when a thank-you card from the White House promptly arrived in the mail.