Barb was the assistant to the Athletic Director for the Ithaca City School District from 1956 to 1980. She was responsible for the publication and distribution of sports schedules and for a wide variety of behind-the-scene activities supporting Ithaca High School athletics, including presentation of yearly budgets. She worked under athletic directors Joe Tatascore, Don Culligan, and Richard Armstrong. Don Culligan states, "Barb was the glue that bonded the athletic department together." Ithaca High honored her in 1984 by creating the Barb Gainey Award, given annually to a senior girl having high achievement in academics and athletics.