My Aunt Barbara was one of the most genuine people that you would want to meet.  She came to New York City to live wih us when her mother died in 1968. She attended and graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School in the Bronx.  I remember her first summer job at Chock-Full-of-Nuts - she was so excited - I was 8 years old and I vowed to get a job there when I was all grown up. 

She started working at Montefiore and got an apartment a few blocks from us. Miss Flossie was the landlord and always looked out for the young people in the community that were working and looking for a chance to have their first apartment.  Barbara always let me drop in anytime to bring my friends, play records and drink all her Pepsi sodas. My cousins LaVern Eaton and later Mary McGee moved in with Barbara later when they graduated from high school and she helped them get jobs.  It was a single women's pad and I loved going there.  I believe that this was my first exposure to what an independent single working women's life was all about.

One of the most important life lesson Barbara taught me was to be true to myself and not take anyting from anyone - stay true to your convictions.  This personality trait was a major contributing factor to her success in her labor negotiations.  Her strong conviction, charm and humor resulted in her being respected and honored by both managment and labor.

She was a true matriarch of the family.  We could all call her for ANYTHING OR NOTHING and she would listen, laugh and love us.  She will be missed more than I can say.