Obituary of Barbara Ellen Stein

Barbara Ellen Stein, 83, of Slingerlands, New York died on July 24, 2013 with her family by her side. Formerly a resident of Mamaroneck, NY, she lived at Beverwyck and Eddy Village Green for the last several years to be closer to her family. Born June 16, 1930 in New York City, Barbara grew up in Brooklyn with her mother Esther M. Ellen, her father, Dr. Henry M Ellen, and her sister, Edith. She attended Erasmus Hall High School and graduated from Smith College in 1952. She truly loved Smith and was active in alumni affairs throughout her life. Barbara was a pioneer in the legal profession, one of only a few women in the Columbia Law School class of 1955. After staying home to raise her family, she served in various government positions, including work with the NYS Department of Law, the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services, the City of Yonkers and the offices of US Representatives Ogden Reid and Nita Lowey. In her later years, she was engaged in private practice in several law firms and served by appointment as an attorney for children in Family Court proceedings. Most of Barbara's adult life was spent in Mamaroneck New York, where she was involved in numerous community, professional and social activities. She was active in the NYS Bar Association, and the Women's Bar Associations of the State of New York and Westchester County. She was also involved in the Larchmont Temple Hadassah and the Inner Wheel of Westchester. She was an avid tennis player. Barbara is pre-deceased by her spouse Samuel Stein. Married in 1954, on her birthday, she and Sam enjoyed nearly 50 years of marriage until his death in 2003. She loved people and would talk to and befriend everyone with whom she came in contact. Barbara and Sam both loved family, friends, and traveling together. Barbara is survived by her daughter, Justice Leslie Ellen Stein of Albany and her fiancé, Mark Sonders; her son, Dr. Alan Mitchell Stein of Hooksett, NH, and his spouse, Susan Kunkel; her daughter, Elisabeth Ann (Betsy) Smith of Leesburg, VA, and her spouse, Jay Smith; 6 beloved grandchildren: Dr. Sarah Rocha, Kevin Stein, James Stein, Rusty Smith, Rebecca Smith and Daniel Smith; sister and brother-in-law, Edith and Dr. Sandor Wax of Lenox, MA; and sister-in-law, Barbara Grinhaus of Slingerlands, NY. Barbara's children wish to express their gratitude to the staff of EVG and all those who cared for Barbara in her later years. Services will be private at the convenience of Barbara's family In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to The Arthritis Foundation, P.O. Box 96280 Washington, DC 20077, www.arthritis.org or The Community Hospice, 295 Valley View Rd, Rensselaer, NY 12144 (www.communityhospice.org).