Barbara S. Kaufman

Woodstock, Vermont resident Barbara Kaufman, born February 8th 1918, passed away peacefully at her home on Sunday, September 13th.

Barbara was born in Newburgh, New York to Bertram and Hilda Stroock. She had a worldview gathered from her childhood experience of traveling with her parents while they worked internationally seeking fine and exotic fibers for the family textile business. As a teenager, Barbara began her life long interest as an artist. Harry Wickey, a sculptor in plaster, clay, bronze and an artist in graphic materials, mentored Barbara. His influence on Barbara was profound; she sculpted a plaster bust of Wickey that was cast in bronze with a remarkable likeness.

Barbara and her husband Ralph lived in Walden, NY for 23 years. They had their three children, Christine, Jenifer and Jonathan and they operated their own apple orchard, Leading Fields. Barbara and Ralph moved to Woodstock from Walden, NY in the early 1960's.

In Vermont, Barbara enjoyed much of her time in her art studio, with a dog at her side, drawing and sculpting. Barbara was devoted not only to her own animals but also to the Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society where her work and dedication is legendary. Barbara, who attended Skidmore College, was known for her sculpture and had an inspiring impact on both young and old. Her creativity was diverse and included many mediums; concrete, clay, plaster, pencil, paint, needlework and endless materials combined with unexpected results. She repurposed things and made them into other things before repurposing was trendy: she took apart items of clothing and made them into something more interesting. Her pieces of sculpture grace public spaces around the Upper Valley, including the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Mount Ascutney Hospital and David's House.

Barbara was beautiful, elegant, funny and honest. She was, with her wrists full of silver bracelets, silver polish on her toenails, a flower and hair sticks tucked into the back of her pinned –up long grey hair, a walking work of art. In her later years she used a vintage ski pole to steady herself, and donned a fashionable pair of sunglasses with her beaming smile beneath.

Her husband Ralph, her daughter Christine, and her son Jonathan predeceased Barbara. She is survived by, her daughter Jenifer Mathieu and spouse Jacques Mathieu, her grandchildren, Stacey Gerrish and spouse Tom O'Brien, Montana Mathieu and Cody Mathieu.

To know Barbara was to have been inspired. She lived fully and authentically, to the very end.

Friends of Barbara are invited to pay their respects between the hours of 1:00 and 4:00 pm on Sunday, October 18th at Barbara's home.