Obituary for Barbara Schwartz (Weinstein)
Barbara (Weinstein) Schwartz recently of Acton, Massachusetts, previously a longtime resident of both Methuen, Massachusetts and Andover, Massachusetts, died peacefully at her home on April 1, 2020 at the age of 96. Barbara was born in Brockton, Massachusetts, daughter of the late Samuel Weinstein and the late Mollie Weinstein. She grew up in Brockton, Massachusetts. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree cum laude in music education from New England Conservatory of Music and took classes towards a Master’s Degree from Boston University.
She was a public-school music teacher and school music department supervisor, and gave private lessons in piano and voice. She was an accomplished, professional vocal soloist performing in several Boston churches prior to meeting the love of her life, the late Judge Maurice Schwartz. They were married for 50 years. After marriage, Barbara was a homemaker and an active volunteer, taking leadership roles in many charitable organizations, including serving as president of the Tifereth Anshe Sfard and Sons of Israel sisterhood, president of the Lawrence Jewish Community Center’s women’s group, a board member of the Jewish Family Service of the Merrimack Valley, a board member of the Congregation Anshe Sholum’s Women’s Auxiliary, a member of the Brandeis University Women’s Committee, a member of the Methuen League of Women Voters, an elected representative to the Methuen Town Meeting, worked with her children’s PTA’s, volunteered at the Stephen Barker School Library, an active member of the board of the Merrimack Valley Jewish Federation, and a Hadassah life member, Merrimack Valley chapter. She taught religious school, sat on the religious school’s board of education, and she was a girl scout leader.
She loved spending time with her family. She enjoyed all things involving music, including singing, playing piano, and composing music. She also enjoyed attending theater, reading, drawing, and travel, especially trips to Cape Cod. In recent years she moved to an assisted living community where she developed a love for bingo, their monthly auctions, and enjoyed attending programs with visiting lecturers and musical performers.
Barbara and Maurice had two children, Pamela Bruckman of Nashua, NH and the late Gail Rosengard, of Chelmsford, MA. Barbara’s brother, Arthur Weinstein, late of Mashpee, MA, and sisters-in law, Lottie Karp late of Lawrence, MA, Anne Lilly, late of Houston Texas, and Lillian Fleet, late of Boca Raton, Florida, pre-deceased her. Barbara had a close relationship with both of her sons -in- law, Ronald Bruckman of Nashua, NH and Mark Rosengard of Chelmsford, MA. She adored her two grandchildren, Nancy Bruckman of Brookline, MA, and Molly Bruckman of San Francisco, CA, and her “great grand cat”, Arya. She leaves behind several nieces, nephews and cousins. The family expresses gratitude to the staff at Robbins Brook, and the private aids who worked with Barbara from Visiting Angels, Home Instead, Acton Visiting Nurses and Nashoba Homecare who all provided her with loving care and support for many years. The family is especially thankful for aides, Wendy and Daphne, and all the help and friendship they provided to Barbara over the years and in Barbara’s last days.
Due to social distancing, services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.
She was a public-school music teacher and school music department supervisor, and gave private lessons in piano and voice. She was an accomplished, professional vocal soloist performing in several Boston churches prior to meeting the love of her life, the late Judge Maurice Schwartz. They were married for 50 years. After marriage, Barbara was a homemaker and an active volunteer, taking leadership roles in many charitable organizations, including serving as president of the Tifereth Anshe Sfard and Sons of Israel sisterhood, president of the Lawrence Jewish Community Center’s women’s group, a board member of the Jewish Family Service of the Merrimack Valley, a board member of the Congregation Anshe Sholum’s Women’s Auxiliary, a member of the Brandeis University Women’s Committee, a member of the Methuen League of Women Voters, an elected representative to the Methuen Town Meeting, worked with her children’s PTA’s, volunteered at the Stephen Barker School Library, an active member of the board of the Merrimack Valley Jewish Federation, and a Hadassah life member, Merrimack Valley chapter. She taught religious school, sat on the religious school’s board of education, and she was a girl scout leader.
She loved spending time with her family. She enjoyed all things involving music, including singing, playing piano, and composing music. She also enjoyed attending theater, reading, drawing, and travel, especially trips to Cape Cod. In recent years she moved to an assisted living community where she developed a love for bingo, their monthly auctions, and enjoyed attending programs with visiting lecturers and musical performers.
Barbara and Maurice had two children, Pamela Bruckman of Nashua, NH and the late Gail Rosengard, of Chelmsford, MA. Barbara’s brother, Arthur Weinstein, late of Mashpee, MA, and sisters-in law, Lottie Karp late of Lawrence, MA, Anne Lilly, late of Houston Texas, and Lillian Fleet, late of Boca Raton, Florida, pre-deceased her. Barbara had a close relationship with both of her sons -in- law, Ronald Bruckman of Nashua, NH and Mark Rosengard of Chelmsford, MA. She adored her two grandchildren, Nancy Bruckman of Brookline, MA, and Molly Bruckman of San Francisco, CA, and her “great grand cat”, Arya. She leaves behind several nieces, nephews and cousins. The family expresses gratitude to the staff at Robbins Brook, and the private aids who worked with Barbara from Visiting Angels, Home Instead, Acton Visiting Nurses and Nashoba Homecare who all provided her with loving care and support for many years. The family is especially thankful for aides, Wendy and Daphne, and all the help and friendship they provided to Barbara over the years and in Barbara’s last days.
Due to social distancing, services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.