Barbara Tappen Mahar was a member of the Bridgewater State College Aquabrytes Synchronized Swim Club from 1958-61. She was also an active participant in BSC Playdays in the sports of field hockey and basketball. In both 1960 and 1961 she was a member of the Northeast Regional Field Hockey Second Team. In 1961 she was the recipient of the Dr. Mary Jo Moriarty Award, BSC's highest honor in the field of physical education.

Away from campus, Barbara was a member of the North Quincy Raiderettes, an amateur fastpitch softball team. From 1957-1961 was a member of the softball Boston Board of Officials.

Barbara's real love is in the sport of tennis where she won several junior club tournaments as a member of the Quincy Tennis Club (1953-56). Following her graduation she was an active member of the Quincy Tennis Club and was the women's club champion for six years. Presently, she is the varsity girls tennis coach at Braintree High School and the co-director of the "Play Ball Softball and tennis Camp" in Braintree, MA. Barbara and her husband Robert presently live in Yarmouthport, MA.